KURA Stock: Insider Activity, Filings & Research
Kura Oncology, Inc. (KURA) — Drillr’s hub for KURA insider activity, SEC filings, earnings signals and AI research. Over the trailing 3 months, KURA insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 4 sales (SEC Form 4).
KURA insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2026 | Parks Diane L.director | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | VASCONCELLES MICHAELdirector | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Malley Thomasdirector | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Szela Mary Tdirector | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | SCHAFER CAROLdirector | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Collins Helen Louisedirector | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Hasnain Faheemdirector | Grant | 35,000 | $8.77 |
| May 22, 2026 | Powl Brian T.officer: Chief Commercial Officer | Sell | 10,000 | $11.00 |
| May 20, 2026 | Powl Brian T.officer: Chief Commercial Officer | Sell | 339 | $9.21 |
| May 20, 2026 | Bair Teresa Brophyofficer: Chief Legal Officer | Sell | 2,256 | $9.38 |
| May 20, 2026 | FORD KATHLEENofficer: Chief Operating Officer | Sell | 2,257 | $9.08 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | WILSON TROY EDWARDdirector, officer: President and CEO | Option | 6,103 | $6.15 |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Malley Thomasdirector | Option | 10,000 | $3.12 |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Leoni Mollieofficer: Chief Medical Officer | Sell | 3,655 | $8.46 |
| Jan 27, 2026 | FORD KATHLEENofficer: Chief Operating Officer | Sell | 1,813 | $8.46 |
Source: KURA SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jun 4, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Kura Oncology, Inc. company profile
Overview
Kura Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ:KURA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The company went public in September 2015 and focuses on developing precision medicines for cancer treatment. Kura has built a pipeline of small molecule drug candidates designed to target specific genetic mutations and pathways involved in various cancers, with its lead programs showing particular promise in blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and solid tumors including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Business
Kura Oncology operates in the biotechnology sector, specifically focused on oncology drug development. The company develops small molecule inhibitors that target specific proteins involved in cancer cell growth and survival. Unlike large molecule biologics such as antibodies, small molecules are typically oral medications that can penetrate cells more easily and target intracellular proteins. The company's pipeline centers around two main drug classes. The first is menin inhibitors, with ziftomenib as the lead candidate. Menin is a protein that, when it interacts with certain other proteins like MLL1, can drive cancer cell growth in specific genetic subtypes of leukemia. By blocking this interaction, ziftomenib can potentially stop cancer cells from proliferating. The second major class is farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs), including tipifarnib and the next-generation KO-2806. These drugs target an enzyme called farnesyl transferase, which helps activate certain cancer-promoting proteins by attaching lipid groups to them. Kura's primary focus areas include acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rapidly progressing blood cancer that affects the bone marrow's ability to produce normal blood cells, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare type of cancer that occurs in the digestive tract. The company is also exploring applications in solid tumors with specific genetic mutations and has begun investigating potential treatments for diabetes using modified versions of their menin inhibitors.
Revenue model
Kura Oncology operates under a typical biotech business model focused on drug development and eventual commercialization. The company currently generates limited revenue, primarily through collaboration agreements and milestone payments from partners. In 2024, Kura received $53.9 million in collaboration revenue from its partnership with Kyowa Kirin, which includes milestone payments and potential future royalties. The company's primary revenue opportunity lies in product sales once its drugs receive regulatory approval. Kura is preparing to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for ziftomenib in relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant AML, with potential approval and commercial launch expected in the coming years. The company estimates significant market opportunities, including approximately $7 billion in frontline AML treatment and $1 billion in GIST treatment. Several factors could significantly impact Kura's future profitability. Regulatory approval success represents the most critical factor, as failure to demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical trials would eliminate revenue potential. Competition from other companies developing similar treatments could reduce market share and pricing power. Manufacturing and supply chain costs will affect gross margins once commercialized. Reimbursement decisions by insurance companies and government payers will determine accessible pricing levels. The company's ability to successfully execute clinical trials and manage research and development expenses will also impact the path to profitability, as current annual R&D spending exceeds $150 million.
Competitive moat
Kura Oncology's competitive position is primarily built on intellectual property protection and clinical execution advantages rather than traditional business moats. The company holds patents around its specific small molecule compounds and their use in treating genetically defined cancer populations, providing temporary exclusivity periods upon approval. The company's strongest competitive advantage lies in its clinical development progress, particularly with ziftomenib in NPM1-mutant AML. Having achieved Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA and completed pivotal trial enrollment ahead of competitors provides a meaningful head start in this specific indication. The favorable safety and tolerability profile demonstrated in clinical trials, combined with once-daily oral dosing, could differentiate ziftomenib from competing therapies. However, Kura's moat is relatively narrow and time-limited. The biotechnology industry is characterized by intense competition, with multiple companies developing menin inhibitors and other targeted cancer therapies. Patent expiration will eventually eliminate exclusivity protection. Biosimilar competition and next-generation therapies from larger pharmaceutical companies with greater resources pose ongoing threats. The company's dependence on a limited number of drug candidates creates concentration risk, as clinical trial failures could significantly impact the entire business. Success will ultimately depend on continued clinical execution, regulatory approval, and the ability to establish market presence before competitors with similar mechanisms of action reach the market.
Risks & safety
Kura Oncology presents a mixed margin of safety profile typical of clinical-stage biotechnology companies. **Liquidity and Solvency:** - Strong cash position with $658.2 million in cash and short-term investments (pro forma $703.2 million including recent milestone) - Current ratio of 8.07, indicating excellent short-term liquidity - Low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.053, minimal debt burden - Management projects cash runway extending into 2027 based on current operating plan - Quarterly cash burn of approximately $72 million in Q1 2025 **Valuation Concerns:** - Trading at negative P/E ratios due to ongoing losses - Price-to-book ratio of 1.58, reasonable for biotech standards - Enterprise value reflects significant premium based on potential rather than current fundamentals - Market cap of approximately $583 million appears dependent on successful drug approval and commercialization **Other Considerations:** - Binary risk profile typical of clinical-stage biotech - success or failure in pivotal trials will dramatically impact valuation - Regulatory approval timeline creates uncertainty over revenue generation timing - Partnership with Kyowa Kirin provides some validation and milestone payment buffer
Recent development
Over the past few years, Kura has executed a focused strategy centered on advancing its ziftomenib program toward regulatory approval and market launch. The company achieved several critical milestones including Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for NPM1-mutant AML treatment and completion of the pivotal KOMET-001 trial enrollment. In early 2025, Kura submitted its New Drug Application for ziftomenib in relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant AML patients, marking a transition from clinical development to potential commercialization. The company has significantly expanded its clinical development program through combination therapy studies. Kura initiated multiple trials combining ziftomenib with standard-of-care treatments including intensive chemotherapy regimens and venetoclax/azacitidine combinations for different AML patient populations. These combination studies aim to establish ziftomenib's utility across broader patient populations and earlier lines of therapy, potentially expanding the addressable market from relapsed/refractory patients to newly diagnosed patients. Kura has also pursued indication expansion beyond AML, initiating studies in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) where ziftomenib is being combined with imatinib, the current standard of care. Additionally, the company has begun developing a next-generation menin inhibitor specifically designed for diabetes treatment, representing a significant expansion beyond oncology applications. The company strengthened its financial position through a strategic partnership with Kyowa Kirin, receiving milestone payments and establishing a foundation for potential future collaboration in global markets.
KURA company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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