Kura Oncology licenses leukemia drug to Japanese drugmaker

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

Kyowa is paying $330 million to Kura in change for licensing rights to the drug, known as ziftomenib, which is in a late-stage scientific 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 Prescription drugs, gained U.S. approval for the same drug.