Kura Oncology already had a broad development plan for ziftomenib in leukemias, but the agreement with Kyowa Kirin provides the cash to execute it and a partner to commercialize the drug globally. Ziftomenib is in the same class of medicines as Syndax Pharmaceuticals’ Revuforj, which won FDA approval last week.
Orchard Therapeutics gene therapy Lenmeldy won FDA approval for treating the rare enzyme deficiency metachromatic leukodystrophy. In January, Kyowa Kirin completed its acquisition of Orchard, which now operates as a subsidiary of the Japanese drugmaker.
As technology advances, AI-powered tools will increasingly reduce the administrative burdens on healthcare providers.
The Orchard Therapeutics acquisition comes as the biotech’s gene therapy for metachromatic leukodystrophy approaches a March 2024 FDA decision. The ex vivo gene therapy is already commercialized in Europe, marketed as Libmeldy.
Amgen is paying Kyowa Kirin $400 million to share in the development of a drug that could offer a new approach to treating atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. The deal comes months after Japan-based Kyowa Kirin reported positive preliminary Phase 2 data for its antibody.