In a Nov. 28 research note, JMP Securities analyst Konstantinos Aprilakis reported Kura Oncology Inc. (KURA:NASDAQ) received a patent that protects the use of its oncology drug candidate, tipifarnib, as a treatment for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), an aggressive subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).
"We view the company's continued efforts to build on tipifarnib's intellectual property estate as key in realizing the therapeutic and future commercial potential of the asset," Aprilakis wrote, particularly since Kura's composition-of-matter patents on the therapeutic expired in 2016. The company does have three other current patents on tipifarnib, the most recent of which "offers Kura and tipifarnib strong protection in the setting of AITL," he added.
About Kura's approach, Aprilakis concluded that "we continue to be encouraged by the pace at which the company is executing on its strategy of obtaining key method-of-use patents covering specific indications and novel biomarkers (e.g., CXCL12)."
JMP Securities has a Market Outperform rating and a $38 per share price target on Kura, reflecting a more than potential tripling of the stock price, which is currently ~$13.08 per share.
[NLINSERT]Disclosure:
1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.
JMP Securities, Kura Oncology Inc., Company Update, November 28, 2018
Analyst Certification: The research analyst(s) who prepared this report does/do hereby certify that the views presented in this report are in accordance with my/our personal views on the securities and issuers discussed in this report. As mandated by SEC Regulation AC no part of my/our compensation was, is or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific views or recommendations expressed herein. This certification is made under the obligations set forth in SEC Regulation AC. Any other person or entity may not use it for any other purpose. This certification is made based on my/our analysis on the date of this report's publication. I/We assume no obligation to update this certification to reflect any facts, circumstances or events that may subsequently come to my/our attention. Signed Konstantinos N. Aprilakis and Simon J. Gruber
JMP Securities Disclosures:
JMP Securities currently makes a market in the security of Kura Oncology, Inc.
JMP Securities expects to receive OR intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Kura Oncology, Inc. in the next 3 months.
JMP Disclaimer:
JMP Securities LLC (the "Firm") compensates research analysts, like other Firm employees, based on the Firm's profitability, which includes revenues from the Firm's institutional sales, trading, and investment banking departments as well as on the quality of the services and activities performed that are intended to benefit the Firm's institutional clients.
JMP Securities LLC, its affiliates, JMP Group LLC, Harvest Capital Strategies LLC, and their respective partners, directors, officers, and associates may have a long or short position in, may act as a market maker for, or may purchase or sell a position in the securities mentioned herein. JMP Securities LLC or its affiliates may be performing, have performed, or seek to perform investment banking, advisory, or other services and may have acted as manager or co-manager for a public offering of securities for any company mentioned herein. The reader should assume that JMP Securities LLC will solicit business from the company covered in this report.
