kros-20240508
0001664710FALSE00016647102024-05-082024-05-08

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 8-K 
 
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 8, 2024
 
 
Keros Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware 001-39264 81-1173868
(state or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1050 Waltham Street, Suite 302
Lexington, Massachusetts
 02421
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 314-6297
 
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) 
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) 



 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class 
Trading
Symbol
 
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share KROS The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 



Item 2.02    Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
 
On May 8, 2024, Keros Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its recent business highlights and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. A copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information contained in this Item 2.02 and in the accompanying exhibit is not incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.  
Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit  
No. Description
 
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
KEROS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By: /s/ Jasbir Seehra
 
Jasbir Seehra, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Dated: May 8, 2024

Document

Exhibit 99.1
Keros Therapeutics Reports Recent Business Highlights and First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

LEXINGTON, Mass., May 8, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 quarter ended March 31, 2024.

“Keros remained focused on clinical execution and continued to make strong progress across our pipeline in the first quarter of 2024,” said Jasbir S. Seehra, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to upcoming milestones in the second quarter of 2024, including providing an update on our ongoing TROPOS Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating KER-012 in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (“PAH”).”

Recent Program Updates

KER-050 (elritercept) for the treatment of ineffective hematopoiesis to address cytopenias
Keros has engaged with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the design of the planned Phase 3 clinical trial of KER-050 in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (“MDS”), and expect to provide an update on the planned trial design in mid-2024.
KER-012 (cibotercept) for the treatment of PAH and for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders
Keros will present a poster abstract from its KER-012 program at the American Thoracic Society (“ATS”) 2024 International Conference, to be held from May 17 through May 22, 2024 in San Diego, California. The following abstract was posted to the ATS website on March 19, 2024:
Preclinical Presentation: “RKER-012, A Novel Modified ActRIIB Ligand Trap, Reduced Pulmonary Vascular Pathology in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Through Attenuation of TGF-ß Family Autocrine/Paracrine Signaling Within the Vasculature"
Session Name: Gaslamp Quarter: Shedding Light on Vascular Pathogenic Mechanisms in PAH
Date and Presentation Time: May 21, 2024; 9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Pacific time

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Keros reported a net loss of $43.1 million in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to a net loss of $35.8 million in the first quarter of 2023. The increase of $7.3 million for the first quarter was largely due to increased research and development efforts as well as additional investments to support the achievement of Keros’ clinical and corporate goals.

Research and development expenses were $38.3 million for the first quarter of 2024 as compared to $31.1 million for the same period in 2023. The increase of $7.2 million was primarily due to additional research and development efforts, manufacturing activities and personnel expenses to support the advancement of Keros’ pipeline.

General and administrative expenses were $10.3 million for the first quarter of 2024 as compared to $7.8 million for the same period in 2023. The increase of $2.5 million was primarily due to increase in personnel expenses and other external expenses to support Keros’ organizational growth.

Keros’ cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024 was $442.4 million compared to $331.1 million as of December 31, 2023. Keros expects that the cash and cash equivalents it had on hand at March 31, 2024 will enable Keros to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2027.




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. We are 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, we have discovered and are developing protein therapeutics that have the potential to provide meaningful and potentially disease-modifying benefit to patients. Keros’ lead product candidate, KER-050 (elritercept), is being developed for the treatment of low blood cell counts, or cytopenias, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with MDS and in patients with myelofibrosis. Keros’ second product candidate, KER-012 (cibotercept), is being developed for the treatment of PAH and for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Keros’ third product candidate, KER-065, is being developed for the treatment of obesity and for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases.

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 “enable,” “expects,” “look forward,” “plans,” “progress” 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 KER-050 and KER-012, including its regulatory plans; 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, KER-050, KER-012 and KER-065; 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024, 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:

Justin Frantz
jfrantz@kerostx.com
617-221-6042



KEROS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
20242023
REVENUE:
Service and other revenue83 — 
Total revenue83 — 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Research and development(38,258)(31,091)
General and administrative(10,308)(7,778)
Total operating expenses(48,566)(38,869)
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS(48,483)(38,869)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
Dividend income5,806 3,105 
Other expense, net(437)(40)
Total other income, net5,369 3,065 
Net loss$(43,114)$(35,804)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted$(43,114)$(35,804)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted$(1.21)$(1.26)
Weighted-average common stock outstanding—basic and diluted35,685,422 28,369,453 





KEROS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
MARCH 31,
2024
DECEMBER 31,
2023
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents442,443 331,147 
Accounts receivable 226 143 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets20,457 16,003 
Total current assets463,126 347,293 
Operating lease right-of-use assets14,995 15,334 
Property and equipment, net4,434 4,134 
Restricted cash1,212 1,212 
Other long-term assets2,052 2,052 
TOTAL ASSETS485,819 370,025 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable4,986 5,450 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities1,050 1,005 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities12,682 17,918 
    Total current liabilities 18,718 24,373 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion13,154 13,439 
    Total liabilities 31,872 37,812 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, par value of $0.0001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively; no shares issued and outstanding— — 
Common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively; 36,067,786 and 31,841,084 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
Additional paid-in capital878,484 713,636 
Accumulated deficit(424,540)(381,426)
Total stockholders' equity 453,947 332,213 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY485,819 370,025