Kura Oncology licenses leukemia drug to Japanese drugmaker

Kura Oncology has signed a world partnership with the Japanese drugmaker Kyowa Kirin to develop and promote Kura’s experimental remedy for acute leukemia, the businesses stated Wednesday.

Kyowa is paying $330 million to Kura in alternate for licensing rights to the drug, known as ziftomenib, which is in a late-stage medical trial for a genetically outlined kind of superior leukemia. Kura can also be eligible to obtain one other $1.2 billion in potential milestone funds.

The Kura-Kyowa tie-up comes days after a competitor, Syndax Prescribed drugs, gained U.S. approval for the same drug.