Kura Oncology Reports Preclinical Data Highlighting Synergistic Activity of Farnesyl Transferase Inhibitor in Combination with Targeted Therapies
– Preclinical data support the potential for FTIs in combination with KRASG12C inhibitors and TKIs to prevent or delay emergence of adaptive resistance –
– Company preparing to initiate Phase 1 dose-escalation trial (FIT-001) of KO-2806, a next-generation FTI –
New preclinical data in the poster titled, ‘Tipifarnib synergizes with a TKI in clear cell renal cell carcinoma models,’ demonstrates the synergistic activity of tipifarnib and axitinib, a TKI approved to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), in cell- and patient-derived RCC xenograft models. These data support the potential to administer an FTI in combination with a TKI for the treatment of RCC, and studies are ongoing to further evaluate the mechanistic basis of the synergy observed with the combination.
In addition, new findings were presented in the poster titled, ‘Combination of tipifarnib with KRASG12C inhibitors to prevent adaptive resistance,’ evaluating the effects of tipifarnib in combination with adagrasib and sotorasib in cell line and xenograft models of KRASG12C mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These data reveal that the addition of tipifarnib leads to significant tumor regression in xenograft models and suppresses mTOR signaling reactivation relative to treatment with the KRASG12C inhibitors alone. These results support further preclinical studies to determine the mechanism of action for the combination.
“Although targeted therapies have demonstrated meaningful clinical activity, including objective responses, across a range of solid tumors, over time adaptive resistance almost invariably emerges, limiting the ability of the targeted therapies to drive sustained clinical benefit. Yesterday, we presented encouraging preclinical data that highlight the potential for FTIs to prevent or delay emergence of resistance to certain classes of targeted therapies,” said
In parallel to the clinical evaluation of tipifarnib, the Company is advancing KO-2806, a potent inhibitor of farnesyl transferase that was designed to improve upon potency, pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties of earlier FTI drug candidates. The Company expects to initiate the Phase 1 first-in-human study (FIT-001) later this year to assess safety, tolerability and preliminary antitumor activity of KO-2806 as a monotherapy and in combination with other targeted therapies in adult patients with advanced solid tumors. Following completion of the dose escalation as a monotherapy, Kura plans to evaluate KO-2806 in dose escalation combination cohorts in advanced solid tumors.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the efficacy, safety and therapeutic potential of tipifarnib and KO-2806, and progress and expected timing of Kura’s drug development programs. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include the risk that compounds that appeared promising in early research or clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in later preclinical studies or clinical trials, the risk that Kura may not obtain approval to market its product candidates, uncertainties associated with performing clinical trials, regulatory filings, applications and other interactions with regulatory bodies, risks associated with reliance on third parties to successfully conduct clinical trials, the risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements, and other risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. You are urged to consider statements that include the words “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “promise,” “potential,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “continues,” “designed,” “goal,” or the negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and forward-looking. For a further list and description of the risks and uncertainties the Company faces, please refer to the Company's periodic and other filings with the
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Investors:
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations &
Corporate Communications
(858) 500-8833
pete@kuraoncology.com
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(858) 500-8822
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Source: Kura Oncology, Inc.