Kura Oncology received a $135 million milestone payment from Kyowa Kirin after the company completed its first U.S. commercial sale of the FDA‑approved menin inhibitor KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib). The sale triggered the milestone under the collaboration and license agreement that was established in November 2024, marking the first time the drug has been prescribed and sold in the United States.
The milestone payment is part of a $330 million upfront payment and an anticipated $315 million in near‑term milestones that the partnership has pledged to fund Kura’s operations through 2027 and support the ziftomenib AML program into commercialization. With the payment, Kura’s cash position rises to $630.7 million as of June 30, 2025, giving the company a healthy current ratio of 5.12 and sufficient liquidity to sustain its research and development pipeline and commercial activities until the end of 2027.
KOMZIFTI received FDA approval on November 13, 2025 and was added to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines as a Category 2A recommended treatment for relapsed or refractory NPM1‑mutated acute myeloid leukemia. The drug’s approval expands Kura’s addressable market to an estimated $3 billion in the U.S. front‑line AML setting, while the current indication serves a niche but critical patient population with limited alternatives.
CEO Troy Wilson emphasized that the milestone confirms the commercial viability of ziftomenib and the strength of the partnership with Kyowa Kirin. He noted that the company’s cash‑rich balance sheet and the partnership’s tiered royalty structure position Kura to scale the product quickly while maintaining a focus on patient access and safety. Wilson also highlighted the company’s ongoing development of front‑line combinations that could broaden the drug’s market share and accelerate revenue growth.
Analysts have responded positively to the milestone, citing the firm’s robust cash position, the strategic partnership, and the drug’s inclusion in NCCN guidelines as key drivers of confidence. The market reaction has been supportive, with several analysts reaffirming buy ratings and maintaining or raising price targets in light of the milestone and the drug’s regulatory and guideline milestones.
Looking ahead, Kura plans to advance ziftomenib into front‑line AML trials and to explore combination therapies with standard‑of‑care agents. The partnership terms grant Kura a 50/50 profit share in the U.S. and a tiered double‑digit royalty structure outside the U.S., with a total potential value of up to $1.16 billion. The company’s focus on precision medicine and its growing pipeline position it to capture a significant share of the AML market as the therapeutic landscape evolves.
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