Keros Therapeutics, Inc. ("Keros") presented additional data at the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition ("ASH") from its ongoing phase 2 clinical trials of elritercept (KER-050). The data showed a durable transfusion independence in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with a median duration of response of 134.1 weeks. Additionally, improvements in patient-reported measures of fatigue in MDS patients were associated with the continued improvement over time.
In an ongoing, open-label, two-part, phase 2 clinical trial evaluating elritercept in patients with very low-, low-, or intermediate-risk MDS, it was noted that 55.2% of patients achieved an overall erythroid response over the first 24 weeks of treatment. The median duration of transfusion independence was 134.1 weeks. Also, 39.1% of the patients achieved transfusion independence for at least eight weeks over the first 24 weeks of treatment.
Furthermore, in a subgroup analysis of patients who were non-transfused at baseline, elritercept treatment showed robust hematological responses with 93.3% of patients having an increase in hemoglobin and 86.7% having an HI-E response. Additionally, sustained increases in hemoglobin and soluble transferrin receptor, along with improvements in facit-fatigue scores, were observed.
In the ongoing phase 2 clinical trial evaluating elritercept in patients with myelofibrosis, it was observed that 82.8% of evaluable non-transfusion dependent patients in both arms saw increases in hemoglobin over a 12-week period within the first 24 weeks. Moreover, 63.4% of patients who received at least three red blood cell units per 12 weeks at baseline showed reductions in transfusion burden over 12 weeks within the first 24 weeks.
The data from both trials support the potential of elritercept to ameliorate ineffective hematopoiesis and address cytopenias in patients with MDS and myelofibrosis, indicating promising clinical benefits.
Keros is looking forward to commencing enrollment of its phase 3 renew clinical trial evaluating elritercept in adult patients with transfusion-dependent anemia with very low-, low-, or intermediate-risk MDS. This step signifies the company's commitment to bringing potential treatment options to patients.
Elritercept, an engineered ligand trap, is being developed for the treatment of low blood cell counts, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, in patients with MDS and myelofibrosis. Keros Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat patients with disorders linked to dysfunctional signaling of the TGF-ß family of proteins. Today the company's shares have moved -0.8% to a price of $66.63. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 8-K report here.
