Kura Oncology Tumbles on Weak Debut Sales for Cancer Drug KOMZIFTI
The biotech's initial $2.1M revenue for its new leukemia drug falls dramatically short of $46.3M consensus, raising concerns over its commercial launch.
Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) shares stumbled after the company announced preliminary fourth-quarter results that showed a significant miss on initial sales for its newly approved cancer therapy, KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib), raising questions about the drug's market adoption.
The San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company reported that KOMZIFTI generated approximately $2.1 million in net product revenue during its first five weeks on the market, from its FDA approval on November 21, 2025, through the end of the year. The figure fell dramatically short of the analyst consensus estimate, which had been pegged at $46.3 million for the period.
Following the news, Kura's stock price saw a decline, reflecting investor concern over the challenging start for a drug central to its growth strategy. The stock closed down approximately 1.5% to $9.41 in the most recent trading session.
KOMZIFTI was approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a specific genetic mutation (NPM1). The approval was seen as a major validation of Kura's precision medicine approach, targeting genetically defined cancers. However, the initial sales figures suggest the company faces a significant climb in establishing the drug with physicians and securing reimbursement.
Despite the stark revenue miss, Kura Oncology's management projected confidence, highlighting the company's robust financial health. The company reported a cash and equivalents position of $667.3 million at year-end. This strong balance sheet was significantly bolstered by the achievement of $195 million in milestone payments from its Japanese partner, Kyowa Kirin, during the fourth quarter.
This cash position, the company stated, is expected to provide a multi-year runway, funding operations through pivotal Phase 3 data readouts for its ongoing AML program without the need for near-term financing. This financial cushion appears to be a key factor in mitigating a more severe market sell-off.
Wall Street analysts, for their part, seem to be looking past the launch's initial turbulence. The consensus rating from a dozen research firms remains a "Moderate Buy," with an average price target of $33.00—representing a more than 200% upside from its current price. This suggests analysts are weighing the long-term potential of Kura's pipeline more heavily than the immediate commercial results of KOMZIFTI.
Investors are now caught between the disappointing launch of a much-anticipated drug and the promise held by the company's strong capitalization and broader pipeline. The focus shifts to Kura's ability to ramp up KOMZIFTI sales in the coming quarters and, more critically, to deliver positive results from its ongoing clinical trials. The company's future now hinges on whether this initial revenue report is merely a launch-pad stumble or a sign of more persistent commercial headwinds.