Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) and Kyowa Kirin (TSE: 4151) entered a global strategic collaboration and license agreement for ziftomenib, Kura's selective oral menin inhibitor (menin-KMT2A/MLL), announced November 20, 2024 and effective December 2024. Kura received a $330M upfront (held in cash as of 12/31/24) and is eligible for up to $420M in near-term milestones, up to $513M in additional development/regulatory/commercial milestones in hematologic malignancies, and $228M if Kyowa Kirin exercises the Field Expansion Option -- up to $1.491B in aggregate. In the U.S. Kura leads commercialization under a 50/50 profit/loss share; Kyowa Kirin leads ex-U.S. and pays tiered royalties. The asset advanced rapidly post-deal: the FDA granted Priority Review of the ziftomenib NDA in June 2025, and on November 13, 2025 granted full approval of KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib) for adults with relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant AML -- the first and only once-daily oral menin inhibitor approved in this setting (pivotal KO-MEN-001 / NCT04067336: CR+CRh 21.4% in 112 patients; 600 mg once daily). The approval triggered a $135M milestone payment from Kyowa Kirin to Kura.