Kura Oncology positions Darlifarnib as foundational combination platform following strong Phase 1a results

Kura Oncology (NASDAQ:KURA) has released preliminary Phase 1a data showcasing the potential of its next-generation farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI), darlifarnib, as a foundational component of combination therapies for KRAS-mutant cancers.

The findings were presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

In the ongoing FIT-001 trial, the combination of darlifarnib and adagrasib demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in heavily pretreated patients.

The study reported confirmed objective response rates (ORR) of 67% in KRAS G12C-mutated pancreatic cancer, 50% in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and 29% in KRAS inhibitor-naïve colorectal cancer.

Notably, the treatment maintained clinical activity in both KRAS inhibitor-naïve and previously treated patients, suggesting that darlifarnib may effectively address adaptive resistance pathways that limit the efficacy of standard targeted therapies.

Building on these results, Kura Oncology announced a strategic shift toward a new clinical platform study designed to evaluate darlifarnib across a broader range of targeted therapies and disease settings.

This platform framework aims to accelerate the identification of optimal drug combinations to improve the depth and durability of clinical responses.

The first expansion under this new initiative will be the combination of darlifarnib and daraxonrasib for the treatment of 2L+ KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer, with Phase 1a evaluation currently scheduled to commence in early 2027.