Caspian Therapeutics and Kura Oncology (NASDAQ:KURA) reported preclinical data for KO-7246, an oral menin inhibitor being developed for diabetes, at the 62nd European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, on September 29, 2026.
The data were generated by Kura Oncology before Caspian’s launch in September 2026 and were presented by Kura Chief Scientific Officer Francis Burrows.
KO-7246 is an orally bioavailable compound currently undergoing IND-enabling development. The findings reported to date are preclinical and have not established safety or efficacy in humans.
KO-7246 Evaluated in Type 1 Diabetes Rat Model
In a rat model of Type 1 diabetes, KO-7246 normalised fasting blood glucose in a majority of treated animals and increased stimulated C-peptide, a marker of endogenous insulin production, according to the presented data.
Pancreatic islets in animals that responded to treatment regenerated to between 40% and 90% of the levels observed in healthy controls by Day 56.
The normalised glucose levels and increased C-peptide were maintained for at least one month after treatment was discontinued, according to the companies.
β-Cell Mass Increases in Type 2 Diabetes Model
In a mouse model of Type 2 diabetes, KO-7246 reduced fasting blood glucose and increased insulin and C-peptide levels.
The compound was also associated with a 3.4-fold increase in β-cell mass. The companies reported enhanced activity when KO-7246 was combined with semaglutide.
The observed increase in insulin was not associated with hypoglycaemia in the model.
In human pancreatic islet models, KO-7246 increased β-cell proliferation and improved insulin release in response to glucose without stimulating the growth of other islet cells, according to the presented findings.
Presentation Includes Comparison With BMF-219
The presentation also included preclinical comparisons with BMF-219, or icovamenib, another compound in clinical development for diabetes.
According to the data presented by Caspian and Kura, BMF-219 showed no discernible activity against menin in a biochemical assay and did not normalise glycaemic control or increase β-cell mass in the Type 1 diabetes model.
The supplied material does not include a response from BMF-219’s developer regarding the comparison.
KO-7246 Advances Through IND-Enabling Development
“Caspian was formed to translate this biology into potentially disease-modifying medicines,” said Robert Spencer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Caspian Therapeutics. “We are advancing KO-7246 through IND-enabling development toward initial clinical evaluation.”
The programme remains at the preclinical stage, and the supplied information does not provide a timetable for the start of human clinical trials.
Caspian and Kura management are scheduled to host a webcast and conference call on October 13, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET.