Kura's tipifarnib meets in Phase II for SCCHN

Kura Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ:KURA) said 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 (SCCHN). To meet the endpoint, the trial protocol required ≥4 confirmed partial responses out of 18 patients. In the first 6 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 1 year in 2 of the 4 patients. The trial enrolled SCCHN patients who progressed on prior therapy, including chemotherapy, Erbitux cetuximab or immune therapy.

The trial’s secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), duration of response (DOR) and safety...