Keros Therapeutics Halts Hypertension Trial Arms Amid Safety Concerns, Stock Plummets

Keros Therapeutics experienced a significant stock decline, with shares tumbling by over 70% in premarket trading due to safety concerns with its pulmonary arterial hypertension drug candidate, cibotercept. This drastic decrease was prompted by reports of pericardial effusion, which led the company to suspend two of the dosing arms in the Phase II TROPOS trial[1][2]. The decision was made after consulting with an independent data monitoring committee, which recommended continuing the 1.5-mg/kg arm while halting the 3-mg/kg and 4.5-mg/kg arms[2]. Analysts from Truist Securities suggest that the company's stock will remain under pressure until these safety concerns are addressed and resolved, with further trial data expected by the second quarter of 2025[1].