Keros Therapeutics Reports Recent Business Highlights and Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results
February 26 2025 - 4:01PM
Keros Therapeutics, Inc. (“Keros” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: KROS),
a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing
and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat a wide range of
patients with disorders that are linked to dysfunctional signaling
of the transforming growth factor-beta (“TGF-ß”) family of
proteins, today provided a business update and reported financial
results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31,
2024.
“The efforts over the past year by the team at Keros have
positioned us to continue to advance our promising pipeline of
novel therapeutics,” said Jasbir S. Seehra, Ph.D., Chair and Chief
Executive Officer. “We are excited to report initial data from the
ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of KER-065 in healthy volunteers in
the first quarter of 2025, which we believe can inform our
advancement into a Phase 2 clinical trial in neuromuscular disease,
with our initial focus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We continue
to expect to report data from the Phase 2 TROPOS trial evaluating
cibotercept (KER-012) in patients with pulmonary arterial
hypertension, and we plan to evaluate the appropriate development
strategy for cibotercept following that data readout.”
Recent Corporate Highlights:
- Cash position strengthened: In February 2025,
Keros received a $200.0 million upfront payment pursuant to the
exclusive license agreement it entered into with Takeda
Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (the “Takeda Agreement”) to further
develop, manufacture and commercialize elritercept (KER-050)
worldwide outside of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, which
became effective on January 16, 2025. Based on current operating
assumptions, the Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents
as of December 31, 2024, together with the upfront payment received
from the Takeda Agreement, will enable the Company to fund its
planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements
into 2029.
2024 Financial Results
Keros reported a net loss of $46.0 million for the fourth
quarter and $187.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as
compared to a net loss of $40.2 million for the fourth quarter and
$153.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase
in net loss for the fourth quarter and the year was largely due to
increased research and development efforts as well as additional
investments to support the achievement of Keros' clinical and
corporate goals.
Keros generated revenue of $3.0 million for the fourth quarter
and $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to
$0.1 million for the fourth quarter and $0.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2023. Revenue in 2024 was largely related to a
milestone achieved under Keros' license agreement with Hansoh
(Shanghai) Healthtech Co., Ltd. (“Hansoh”).
Research and development expenses were $45.6 million for the
fourth quarter and $173.6 million for the year ended December 31,
2024, as compared to $37.5 million for the fourth quarter and
$135.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase
in research and development expenses for the fourth quarter and the
year was driven by the continued advancement of the Company's
pipeline, notably the TROPOS trial, the ongoing Phase 1 clinical
trial of KER-065 and the progression of two Phase 2 clinical trials
and the Phase 3 clinical trial of elritercept, as well as an
increase in personnel costs and infrastructure to support
operations and expansion of the Company's pipeline.
General and administrative expenses were $10.7 million for the
fourth quarter and $40.8 million for the year ended December 31,
2024, as compared to $9.1 million and $34.8 million for the fourth
quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, respectively. The
increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses to
support the Company's organizational growth and achievement of its
corporate goals, an increase in facilities, supplies and other
office expenses due to the growth of the Company's organization and
an increase in professional fees.
Keros’ cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024 was
$559.9 million compared to $331.1 million as of December 31, 2023.
Based on current operating assumptions, Keros expects that its cash
and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024, together with the
$200 million upfront payment from the Takeda Agreement, which the
Company received in February 2025, will enable the Company to fund
its planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements
into 2029.
About Keros Therapeutics, Inc.
Keros is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat a wide
range of patients with disorders that are linked to dysfunctional
signaling of the TGF-ß family of proteins. Keros is a leader in
understanding the role of the TGF-ß family of proteins, which are
master regulators of the growth, repair and maintenance of a number
of tissues, including blood, bone, skeletal muscle, adipose and
heart tissue. By leveraging this understanding, Keros has
discovered and is developing protein therapeutics that have the
potential to provide meaningful and potentially disease-modifying
benefit to patients. One of Keros’ product candidates, cibotercept,
is being developed for the treatment of pulmonary arterial
hypertension and for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The
Company's second product candidate, KER-065, is being developed for
the treatment of neuromuscular diseases. Keros' most advanced
product candidate, elritercept, 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.
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,”
“continue,” “expects,” “enable,” “potential” and “will” 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 the design, objectives and timing of its clinical
trials for cibotercept and KER-065; the expected timing of data
readouts from the Phase 1 clinical trial of KER-065 and the TROPOS
trial; Keros’ evaluation of development strategy for cibotercept;
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 product candidates, cibotercept, KER-065 and
elritercept; 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; and Keros’
dependence on third parties in connection with manufacturing,
clinical trials and preclinical studies.
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 Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2024, and its other
documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC,
including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for
the year ended December 31, 2024. 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:Justin
Frantzjfrantz@kerostx.com617-221-6042
KEROS THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
Consolidated Statements of Operations |
(In thousands, except share and per share data) |
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
THREE MONTHSENDED DECEMBER 31, |
|
YEAR ENDEDDECEMBER 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
REVENUE: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service and other revenue |
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
143 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
License revenue |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total revenue |
|
|
3,042 |
|
|
|
143 |
|
|
|
3,550 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
OPERATING EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
(45,631 |
) |
|
|
(37,493 |
) |
|
|
(173,629 |
) |
|
|
(135,258 |
) |
General and administrative |
|
|
(10,665 |
) |
|
|
(9,105 |
) |
|
|
(40,754 |
) |
|
|
(34,834 |
) |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(56,296 |
) |
|
|
(46,598 |
) |
|
|
(214,383 |
) |
|
|
(170,092 |
) |
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS |
|
|
(53,254 |
) |
|
|
(46,455 |
) |
|
|
(210,833 |
) |
|
|
(169,941 |
) |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE),
NET: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development incentive income |
|
|
1,238 |
|
|
|
2,400 |
|
|
|
1,238 |
|
|
|
2,400 |
|
Dividend income |
|
|
6,519 |
|
|
|
3,756 |
|
|
|
23,496 |
|
|
|
14,755 |
|
Other income (expense), net |
|
|
(229 |
) |
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
(954 |
) |
|
|
(206 |
) |
Total other income, net |
|
|
7,528 |
|
|
|
6,212 |
|
|
|
23,780 |
|
|
|
16,949 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
(45,726 |
) |
|
|
(40,243 |
) |
|
|
(187,053 |
) |
|
|
(152,992 |
) |
Income tax provision |
|
|
(300 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(300 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(46,026 |
) |
|
$ |
(40,243 |
) |
|
$ |
(187,353 |
) |
|
$ |
(152,992 |
) |
Net loss attributable to
common stockholders—basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(46,026 |
) |
|
$ |
(40,243 |
) |
|
$ |
(187,353 |
) |
|
$ |
(152,992 |
) |
Net loss per share
attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(1.14 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.34 |
) |
|
$ |
(5.00 |
) |
|
$ |
(5.20 |
) |
Weighted-average common stock
outstanding—basic and diluted |
|
|
40,337,720 |
|
|
|
30,126,578 |
|
|
|
37,437,652 |
|
|
|
29,447,119 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEROS THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
(In thousands, except share and per share data) |
(Unaudited) |
|
|
DECEMBER 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
559,931 |
|
|
$ |
331,147 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
2,742 |
|
|
|
143 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
26,220 |
|
|
|
16,003 |
|
Total current assets |
|
588,893 |
|
|
|
347,293 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use
assets |
|
19,251 |
|
|
|
15,334 |
|
Property
and equipment, net |
|
4,237 |
|
|
|
4,134 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
1,449 |
|
|
|
1,212 |
|
Other
long term assets |
|
2,056 |
|
|
|
2,052 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
615,886 |
|
|
$ |
370,025 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
CURRENT
LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
$ |
4,602 |
|
|
$ |
5,450 |
|
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
|
1,978 |
|
|
|
1,005 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
20,870 |
|
|
|
17,918 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
27,450 |
|
|
|
24,373 |
|
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
|
16,883 |
|
|
|
13,439 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
44,333 |
|
|
|
37,812 |
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY: |
|
|
|
Preferred stock, par value of
$0.0001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized as of
December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; no shares issued
and outstanding |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, par value of
$0.0001 per share; 200,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2024
and December 31, 2023; 40,554,705 and 31,841,084 shares issued and
outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
respectively |
|
4 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
1,140,328 |
|
|
|
713,636 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(568,779 |
) |
|
|
(381,426 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
571,553 |
|
|
|
332,213 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
$ |
615,886 |
|
|
$ |
370,025 |
|
|
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