Kura gains on Phase II SCCHN data for tipifarnib

Kura Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ:KURA) jumped $4.95 (72%) to $11.80 on Friday after reporting late Thursday that tipifarnib met the primary endpoint in a Phase II trial to treat v-Ha-ras Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS)-mutant relapsed or refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

To meet the endpoint, the trial protocol required at least four confirmed partial responses out of 18 patients. In the first six evaluable patients, tipifarnib led to 4 confirmed partial responses and 2 cases of stable disease. Additionally, Kura said the duration of response has been over one year in two of the four patients. The trial enrolled SCCHN patients who progressed on prior therapy, including chemotherapy, Erbitux cetuximab or immune therapy...