Benzinga - by Vandana Singh, Benzinga Editor.
Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Keros Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:KROS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes novel therapeutics for disorders linked to dysfunctional signaling of the transforming growth factor-beta family of proteins.
Oppenheimer writes, “Keros is developing best-in-class therapeutics that regulate TGF-β signaling to treat hematological and cardiopulmonary diseases. We consider its pipeline one of the more attractive in biotech today, given its disease-modifying potential in indications with considerable unmet need.”
Keros’ lead product candidate, KER-050 (elritercept), is being developed for low blood cell counts or cytopenias, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelofibrosis.
- The analyst sees elritercept as the potential preferred 2L treatment in MDS with durable responses and benefits.
- At the EHA update, an overall hematologic response was observed in 56% of the mITT24 patients, with transfusion independence (TI)≥8 weeks achieved in 41%.
Keros’ second product candidate, KER-012 (cibotercept), is being developed for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cardiovascular disorders.
- Cibotercept’s safety/efficacy profile is potentially better than Merck & Co Inc’s (NYSE:MRK) newly approved Winrevair (sotatercept-csrk) for PAH.
- KER-065 might be the dark horse candidate in obesity. Data support inhibition of myostatin and activin A for maximal increases in lean muscle mass and fat loss with clean safety.
Given management’s track record in developing drugs that influence the TGF-β signaling pathway, these initiatives are seen as relatively low-risk. Oppenheimer likens Keros to Acceleron, which achieved considerable success and was acquired by Merck for $11.5 billion in 2021.
Price Action: KROS shares are down 0.82% at $46.10 at last check Tuesday.
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Latest Ratings for KROS
| Dec 2020 | SVB Leerink | Maintains | Outperform | |
| Dec 2020 | HC Wainwright & Co. | Maintains | Buy | |
| May 2020 | Piper Sandler | Maintains | Overweight |
View the Latest Analyst Ratings
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