LEXINGTON, Mass., May 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Keros Therapeutics, Inc. (“Keros”) (Nasdaq: KROS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from hematological and musculoskeletal disorders with high unmet medical need, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the first quarter of 2020.

“Keros continued to make meaningful strides in the first quarter of 2020 as we continued our transition from a private company to a public company,” said Jasbir S. Seehra, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to our continued progress in the clinic with KER-047 and KER-050, we have strengthened our balance sheet with the successful completion of our Series C financing in March 2020 and our initial public offering in April 2020.  Our team continues to execute on our development plan with the aim of meeting our milestones in 2020.  We are well positioned to build on our Phase 1 clinical trials with multiple planned Phase 2 clinical trials in each of our two lead programs in patients who are underserved by current therapies.”

Recent Corporate Highlights:

• Completed Series C financing: In March 2020, Keros closed a Series C financing for total gross proceeds of $56.0 million, bringing the total venture funding for the company to approximately $78.5 million in gross proceeds.
   
• Completed upsized initial public offering: In April 2020, Keros completed its initial public offering of 6,900,000 shares of common stock, which included the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares at a public offering price of $16.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds to Keros of $110.4 million. Keros received approximately $99.8 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs.
   
• Leadership team strengthened and board of directors expanded to support growth: In February 2020, Keros appointed Keith Regnante as its Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Regnante will lead the finance and information technology functions, together with overseeing investor relations and fundraising efforts. Additionally, in March 2020, Keros appointed Nima Farzan, the Chief Executive Officer of Kinnate Biopharma Inc., and Carl Gordon, Managing Partner and Co-Head of Global Private Equity at OrbiMed Advisors LLC, to its board of directors.  

Recent Program Highlights:

• KER-050 for the treatment of ineffective hematopoiesis to address cytopenias:
  • In January 2020, Keros completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-part, dose-escalation Phase 1 clinical trial of KER-050 in 48 healthy post-menopausal women. Keros plans to report the positive topline data from this trial at the virtual 25^th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) taking place June 11-14 2020.  In addition, two abstracts outlining data from preclinical studies of KER-050 in multiple animal models have been accepted for presentation at the 25th Congress of the EHA taking place from June 11 to 14, 2020.
  • Commencement of an open-label Phase 2 clinical trial of KER-050 evaluating the treatment of cytopenias, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with very low-, low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes is expected in the second half of 2020, subject to any delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
     
• KER-047 for the treatment of anemia arising from high hepcidin levels and for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva:
  • Keros expects to complete its Phase 1 clinical trial of KER-047 in mid-2020, and to subsequently report data from this trial in the second half of 2020, subject to any delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
     
• KER-012 for the treatment of disorders associated with bone loss and for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • Keros has selected KER-012 as a product candidate for further preclinical and clinical development.

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Keros reported a net loss of $11.9 million in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to a net loss of $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in net loss for the first quarter was largely due to increased research and development efforts as well as investments to enable the company transition to a publicly traded company.

Research and development expenses were $8.5 million for the first quarter of 2020 as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2019. The increase of $3.7 million was primarily due to an increase in KER-050 related costs associated with the advancement of its Phase 1 clinical trial and start-up costs associated with the Phase 2 MDS trial, an increase in expenses associated with the advancement of its KER-047 Phase 1 clinical trial, and increased headcount to support the advancement of its pipeline.

General and administrative expenses were $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2020 as compared to $0.5 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase of $1.5 million was primarily due to an increase in professional fees for services related to preparing for the filing of Keros' registration statement for its initial public offering in April 2020, as well as increases in headcount to support the achievement of Keros' corporate goals, including its transition to a public company. 

Keros’ cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2020 was $54.5 million compared to $7.0 million as of December 31, 2019.  Total cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2020 did not include total net proceeds of approximately $99.8 million from the Company’s initial public offering completed in April 2020.   Keros expects that the cash and cash equivalents it had on hand at March 31, 2020, together with the net proceeds from its initial public offering, will fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2022.

About Keros Therapeutics, Inc.

Keros is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from hematologic and musculoskeletal disorders with high unmet medical need. Keros is a leader in understanding the role of the transforming growth factor-Beta, or TGF-ß, family of proteins, which are master regulators of red blood cell and platelet production as well as of the growth, repair and maintenance of muscle and bone. Keros’ lead protein therapeutic product candidate, KER-050, is being developed for the treatment of low blood cell counts, or cytopenias, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and in patients with myelofibrosis. Keros’ lead small molecule product candidate, KER-047, is being developed for the treatment of anemia resulting from elevated levels of hepcidin, the key regulator of iron absorption and recycling, as well as for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. Keros’ third product candidate, KER-012, is being developed for the treatment of disorders associated with bone loss, such as osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta, and for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," “plans,” “potential,” "projects,” “would” and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning: Keros’ expectations regarding its growth, strategy, progress and timing of its preclinical studies and clinical trials for KER-050, KER-047 and KER-012, including its regulatory plans; the potential impact of COVID-19 on Keros’ ongoing and planned preclinical studies, clinical trials, business and operations; Keros’ plans to present preclinical and clinical data at upcoming conferences; and Keros’ expected cash runway. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: Keros’ limited operating history and historical losses; Keros’ ability to raise additional funding to complete the development and any commercialization of its product candidates; Keros’ dependence on the success of its lead product candidates, KER-050 and KER-047; that Keros may be delayed in initiating, enrolling or completing any clinical trials; competition from third parties that are developing products for similar uses; Keros’ ability to obtain, maintain and protect its intellectual property; Keros’ dependence on third parties in connection with manufacturing, clinical trials and pre-clinical studies; and risks relating to the impact on our business of the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health crises.

These and other risks are described more fully in Keros’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s final prospectus for its initial public offering, filed with the SEC on April 8, 2020, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, Keros undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Contact:
Julia Balanova
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