Keros Therapeutics to Receive Development Milestone Payment from Partner Takeda
Rhea-AI Summary
Keros Therapeutics (Nasdaq: KROS) announced it will receive a $20 million development milestone payment from partner Takeda under the global license agreement for elritercept, triggered by first patient dosing in the Phase 3 ELRiSE MDS trial comparing elritercept to epoetin alfa in anemia due to certain myelodysplastic syndromes.
According to Keros, the Takeda license, effective January 16, 2025, included a $200 million upfront payment and eligibility for development, commercial and sales milestones potentially exceeding $1.1 billion, plus tiered royalties on net sales. Keros expects to distribute 25% of the net cash proceeds from this milestone payment to stockholders.
Positive
- $20 million development milestone payment from Takeda
- Prior $200 million upfront cash payment from Takeda in February 2025
- Eligibility for additional milestones potentially exceeding $1.1 billion
- Expected distribution of 25% of net cash milestone proceeds to stockholders
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | board appointment | Neutral | +5.6% | Anne Prener appointed to Keros's board effective July 1, 2026 |
| Jun 01 | conference participation | Neutral | -3.2% | CEO scheduled to participate in a Goldman Sachs healthcare conference fireside chat |
| May 14 | first-quarter earnings | Negative | -8.3% | Quarterly net loss followed prior-year license revenue and lower research spending |
| Mar 09 | ALS collaboration | Positive | +0.4% | Agreement established a Phase 2 ALS trial collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Mar 09 | clinical data presentation | Positive | +0.4% | Phase 1 rinvatercept data reported tolerability and target-engagement findings |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent history showed negative earnings news aligned with a -8.34% move, while partnership and clinical updates each recorded a 0.44% move; neutral events diverged.
Key Terms
tgf-ß medical
phase 3 medical
myelodysplastic syndromes medical
open-label medical
ring sideroblasts medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
LEXINGTON, Mass., July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Keros Therapeutics, Inc. (“Keros”) (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 announced that it will receive a
“We are delighted by the continued progress of the elritercept program,” said Jasbir S. Seehra, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Keros. “We are encouraged by the positive signals that were observed in the Phase 2 clinical trial of elritercept in patients with very low-, low-, or intermediate-risk MDS, which were observed in patients with MDS both with and without ring sideroblasts.”
Under the terms of the global license agreement with Takeda to further develop, manufacture and commercialize elritercept worldwide outside of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, which became effective on January 16, 2025, Keros received a
Keros expects to distribute
About Elritercept
Elritercept is an engineered ligand trap comprised of a modified ligand-binding domain of the TGF-ß receptor known as activin receptor type IIA that is fused to the portion of the human antibody known as the Fc domain. 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.
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 skeletal muscle, bone, adipose, heart tissue and blood. 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. Keros’ lead product candidate, rinvatercept, is being developed for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Keros’ most advanced product candidate, elritercept, is being developed for the treatment of cytopenias, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome 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 “continue,” “expect,” “potential,” “believe” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning: Keros’ expectations regarding the progress of the elritercept program; the expected milestone payment under the global license agreement with Takeda; and the expected distribution of net proceeds from such milestone payment to Keros’ stockholders. 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, rinvatercept 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 May 14, 2026, 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
