Kura Oncology launches Caspian Therapeutics to develop menin-inhibitor diabetes drug with $50M funding

Kura Oncology has spun out a new biotech called Caspian Therapeutics to focus on menin inhibitors for diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases.

The company’s lead candidate, code-named KO-7246, has shown in preclinical studies that it may stimulate regeneration of pancreatic beta cells and increase insulin production.

Menin inhibitors are already approved for treating certain leukemias, making this a novel application of an existing drug class.

Caspian has secured $50 million in financing, with Kura retaining about a 50 percent stake and investors including Eli Lilly, BVF Partners and the T1D Fund.

The funding and shared operational resources are intended to accelerate development, though the therapy remains in early preclinical stages.