Kura Oncology Announces Senior Executive Promotions
Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) announced key leadership changes with Mollie Leoni, M.D. promoted to Chief Medical Officer and Francis Burrows, Ph.D. elevated to Chief Scientific Officer. Stephen Dale, M.D., stepped down as CMO on January 2, 2025, to address personal health issues.
Dr. Leoni, who joined Kura in 2020, has been instrumental in developing ziftomenib, a potential therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Dr. Burrows, with the company since 2014, has led pipeline innovation targeting various conditions including gastrointestinal stromal tumors, diabetes, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.
Under Dr. Dale's leadership, the company successfully managed Project Optimus, advanced ziftomenib through its first registration-enabling study, and established foundations for KO-2806 as a combination treatment for multiple solid tumor indications.
Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) ha annunciato cambiamenti significativi nel leadership con Mollie Leoni, M.D. promossa a Chief Medical Officer e Francis Burrows, Ph.D. elevato a Chief Scientific Officer. Stephen Dale, M.D., si è dimesso da CMO il 2 gennaio 2025 per motivi di salute personale.
Il Dr. Leoni, che è entrata in Kura nel 2020, è stata fondamentale nello sviluppo di ziftomenib, una potenziale terapia per la leucemia mieloide acuta (AML). Il Dr. Burrows, con l'azienda dal 2014, ha guidato l'innovazione del pipeline mirata a varie condizioni tra cui tumori stromali gastrointestinali, diabete, carcinoma renale a cellule chiare e carcinoma polmonare non a piccole cellule con mutazione KRAS.
Sotto la direzione del Dr. Dale, l'azienda ha gestito con successo il Progetto Optimus, ha fatto avanzare ziftomenib attraverso il suo primo studio abilitante alla registrazione e ha stabilito le basi per KO-2806 come trattamento combinato per molteplici indicazioni di tumori solidi.
Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) anunció cambios clave en el liderazgo con Mollie Leoni, M.D. ascendida a directora médica y Francis Burrows, Ph.D. elevado a director científico. Stephen Dale, M.D., renunció como CMO el 2 de enero de 2025 debido a problemas de salud personal.
La Dra. Leoni, quien se unió a Kura en 2020, ha sido fundamental en el desarrollo de ziftomenib, una terapia potencial para la leucemia mieloide aguda (AML). El Dr. Burrows, con la empresa desde 2014, ha liderado la innovación del pipeline apuntando a diversas condiciones, incluyendo tumores estromales gastrointestinales, diabetes, carcinoma renal de células claras y cáncer de pulmón no microcítico mutado por KRAS.
Bajo el liderazgo del Dr. Dale, la empresa gestionó con éxito el Proyecto Optimus, avanzó en ziftomenib a través de su primer estudio habilitante para la registración y estableció las bases para KO-2806 como un tratamiento combinado para múltiples indicaciones de tumores sólidos.
쿠라 온콜로지 (NASDAQ: KURA)는 몰리 레오니(M.D.)를 최고 의료 책임자로 승진시키고 프랜시스 버로우스(Ph.D.)를 최고 과학 책임자로 정식 임명하여 주요 리더십 변화를 발표했습니다. 스티븐 데일(M.D.)은 개인 건강 문제로 인해 2025년 1월 2일 CMO에서 사임했습니다.
2020년에 쿠라에 합류한 레오니 박사는 급성 골수성 백혈병(AML)의 잠재적인 치료제인 지프토메닙의 개발에 중요한 역할을 했습니다. 2014년부터 회사에 재직 중인 버로우스 박사는 위장관 간질종양, 당뇨병, 투명세포 신장암, 그리고 KRAS 변이가 있는 비소세포 폐암을 포함한 여러 질환을 목표로 하는 파이프라인 혁신을 이끌어왔습니다.
데일 박사의 리더십 아래, 회사는 프로젝트 옵티머스를 성공적으로 관리하고 지프토메닙을 첫 번째 등록 가능 연구를 통해 발전시켰으며, KO-2806을 다양한 고형 종양 적응증에 대한 병용 치료로의 기초를 설정했습니다.
Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) a annoncé des changements importants au sein de sa direction, avec Mollie Leoni, M.D. promue au poste de Chief Medical Officer et Francis Burrows, Ph.D. élevé au rang de Chief Scientific Officer. Stephen Dale, M.D., a démissionné de son poste de CMO le 2 janvier 2025, pour des raisons de santé personnelle.
La Dr. Leoni, qui a rejoint Kura en 2020, a joué un rôle clé dans le développement de ziftomenib, une thérapie potentielle pour la leucémie myéloïde aiguë (AML). Le Dr. Burrows, qui fait partie de l'entreprise depuis 2014, a dirigé l'innovation de la pipeline visant diverses conditions, y compris les tumeurs stromales gastro-intestinales, le diabète, le carcinome rénal à cellules claires et le cancer du poumon non à petites cellules muté KRAS.
Sous la direction du Dr. Dale, l'entreprise a réussi à gérer le Projet Optimus, a avancé ziftomenib à travers sa première étude habilitante à l'enregistrement et a établi les bases pour KO-2806 en tant que traitement combiné pour plusieurs indications de tumeurs solides.
Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) gab bedeutende Änderungen in der Unternehmensführung bekannt, mit Mollie Leoni, M.D., die zur Chief Medical Officer befördert wurde, und Francis Burrows, Ph.D., der zum Chief Scientific Officer befördert wurde. Stephen Dale, M.D., trat am 2. Januar 2025 als CMO zurück, um persönliche gesundheitliche Probleme anzugehen.
Dr. Leoni, die 2020 zu Kura kam, spielte eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Entwicklung von ziftomenib, einer potenziellen Therapie für akute myeloische Leukämie (AML). Dr. Burrows, der seit 2014 im Unternehmen ist, hat die Pipeline-Innovation geleitet, die auf verschiedene Erkrankungen abzielt, einschließlich gastrointestinaler Stromatumoren, Diabetes, klarzelligem Nierenzellkarzinom und KRAS-mutiertem nicht-kleinzelligem Lungenkrebs.
Unter der Leitung von Dr. Dale hat das Unternehmen erfolgreich das Projekt Optimus verwaltet, ziftomenib durch die erste registrierungsfähige Studie vorangebracht und die Grundlagen für KO-2806 als Kombinationstherapie für mehrere solide Tumorindikationen geschaffen.
- Smooth executive transition with internal promotions ensuring continuity
- Progress in ziftomenib development towards registration for AML treatment
- Advancement of diverse pipeline targeting multiple cancer indications
- Unexpected departure of CMO due to health issues could potentially impact ongoing projects
Insights
Management changes below the CEO level are generally not market-moving events. While Dr. Leoni and Dr. Burrows bring impressive credentials and experience to their new roles, these promotions represent internal succession planning rather than transformative leadership changes. The departure of Dr. Dale as CMO, while noteworthy, appears amicable and well-managed with a smooth transition to Dr. Leoni.
The more relevant aspects for investors are the ongoing development programs mentioned in passing: ziftomenib in its registration-enabling study for AML and KO-2806 for solid tumors. However, this announcement does not provide material updates on these programs' progress or timelines.
– Mollie Leoni, M.D. promoted to Chief Medical Officer –
– Francis Burrows, Ph.D. promoted to Chief Scientific Officer –
– Stephen Dale, M.D., steps down as CMO and Head of R&D to prioritize personal health –
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kura Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: KURA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, today announced that Mollie Leoni, M.D., has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer after serving as Executive Vice President of Clinical Development and clinical lead for the Company’s ziftomenib program since 2020. In addition, Francis Burrows, Ph.D., has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer after leading the Company’s translational research efforts for the past nine years. Stephen Dale, M.D., has stepped down as Chief Medical Officer, effective as of January 2, 2025, to focus on recovery from personal health challenges.
“Stephen has been a key contributor to our development programs over the past several years,” said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and CEO of Kura Oncology. “Under his leadership, we successfully navigated Project Optimus, advanced ziftomenib through a first registration-enabling study and laid the foundation for KO-2806 as a promising combination partner across multiple solid tumor indications. On behalf of our team at Kura, we thank Stephen for his invaluable contributions to our team, culture and programs and wish him well as he prioritizes his health.”
“We are very fortunate to have such exceptional leaders ready to lead our research and development organization,” Dr. Wilson continued. “Mollie’s proven leadership and expertise have positioned ziftomenib as a potentially transformational therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Additionally, Francis has been instrumental in driving our pipeline innovation, with programs addressing gastrointestinal stromal tumors, diabetes, clear cell renal cell carcinoma and KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. I look forward to working closely with Mollie and Francis as we continue to advance our mission and maximize the value of all our programs.”
Dr. Leoni joined Kura in February 2020 as Vice President of Clinical Development and was promoted to Executive Vice President of Clinical Development in July 2023. With a robust background in oncology and orphan drug disease development, she previously served as Executive Director of Medical Science at Kyowa Kirin, where she led clinical efforts for several oncology programs, including mogamulizumab, which achieved international registration for cutaneous T- cell lymphoma. Dr. Leoni earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and completed extensive training bioethics before entering postgraduate training at Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Burrows joined Kura in July 2014 as Vice President of Translational Biology, bringing more than 20 years of experience in drug discovery and development. Throughout his career, he has focused on the biology of disease, primarily cancer, and the discovery and development of small molecule drugs. His career includes founding two biotech startups, including Conforma Therapeutics, acquired by Biogen in 2006. At Biogen, Francis spearheaded multiple oncology programs and explored the use of Hsp90 inhibitors for neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. He earned his Ph.D. in immunology and completed his training in London and Dallas, specializing in antibody-based therapeutics for cancer.
About Kura Oncology
Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. The Company’s pipeline consists of small molecule drug candidates that target cancer signaling pathways. Ziftomenib, a once-daily, oral menin inhibitor, is the first and only investigational therapy to receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) NPM1-mutant AML. In November 2024, Kura entered a global strategic collaboration agreement with Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. to develop and commercialize ziftomenib for AML and other hematologic malignancies. Enrollment in a Phase 2 registration-directed trial of ziftomenib in R/R NPM1-mutant AML has been completed and the companies anticipate submission of a New Drug Application in 2025. Kura is also conducting a series of clinical trials to evaluate ziftomenib in combination with current standards of care in newly diagnosed and R/R NPM1-mutant and KMT2A-rearranged AML. KO-2806, a next-generation farnesyl transferase inhibitor, is being evaluated in a Phase 1 dose-escalation trial as a monotherapy and in combination with targeted therapies. Tipifarnib, a potent and selective FTI, is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial in combination with alpelisib for patients with PIK3CA-dependent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. For additional information, please visit Kura’s website at https://kuraoncology.com/ and follow us on X and LinkedIn.
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 therapeutic potential and potential success of Kura’s product candidates and the anticipated submission of a New Drug Application for ziftomenib in 2025. 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. Such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date they are made, and Kura assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Kura Contacts
Investors:
Patti Bank
Managing Director
(415) 513-1284
patti.bank@icrhealthcare.com
Media:
Cassidy McClain
Vice President
Inizio Evoke Comms
(619) 849-6009
cassidy.mcclain@inizioevoke.com
FAQ
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