Keros Therapeutics KROS is set to receive a $20 million development milestone from Takeda after the first patient was dosed in the phase III ELRiSE study of elritercept. The payment adds near-term financial flexibility while advancing a partnered late-stage program.
The milestone also underscores Keros' dependence on collaboration-related income. The company has no marketed products, recorded no revenues in the second quarter of 2026 and generated only $0.37 million in revenues during the first half.
KROS Milestone Follows ELRiSE Phase III Start
The $20 million payment was triggered by first-patient dosing in ELRiSE, which is evaluating elritercept against epoetin alfa for anemia in patients with very low-, low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. The study expands the late-stage development program for elritercept.
The milestone follows a $10 million payment earned in July 2025 after the first patient was dosed in the phase III RENEW study. That trial is evaluating elritercept for transfusion-dependent anemia in patients with very low-, low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.
Keros Will Return Part of the Milestone Cash
Keros expects to distribute 25% of the net cash proceeds from the $20 million payment to stockholders. The remaining proceeds should add flexibility as the company advances its wholly owned rinvatercept program.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $257.6 million at June 30, 2026, down from $281.5 million at March 31. Management expects current resources to fund operating expenses and capital expenditures into the first half of 2028.
Year to date, Keros shares have plunged 46.8% against the industry’s 11.1% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
KROS Keeps Elritercept Upside With Less Spending
Takeda holds exclusive rights to elritercept outside mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Keros remains eligible for additional development, commercial and sales milestones totaling up to $1.1 billion, plus tiered royalties in the low double-digits to high teens on net sales.
The partnership has also shifted elritercept development costs to Takeda. Keros' research and development expenses fell 48.7% year over year to $22.3 million in the second quarter, with the cost transfer and the 2025 restructuring contributing to the decline.
Keros Still Faces Lumpy Collaboration Revenue
The milestone improves cash inflow but does not establish a recurring revenue stream. Keros recognized no licensing revenue in the first half of 2026, leaving reported revenues sensitive to the timing and achievement of future partnership milestones.
That uncertainty matters as Keros concentrates resources on rinvatercept for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Sarepta Therapeutics SRPT remains an established DMD competitor with approved exon-skipping therapies, including EXONDYS 51, AMONDYS 45 and VYONDYS 53. PTC Therapeutics PTCT also participates in DMD through approved medicines including Emflaza, increasing the competitive bar for new entrants.
KROS Signals Keep the Milestone in Perspective
The $20 million payment is financially useful, but it does not change the core investment tension. Keros still lacks product sales, and future revenues remain tied to uneven collaboration payments while rinvatercept development becomes increasingly central to the company's value proposition.
The milestone should not be treated as a substitute for a Zacks Rank or Zacks Style Score signal. Style Scores are designed to complement the Zacks Rank by assessing value, growth and momentum characteristics. With no specific KROS Rank or Style Scores assigned here, the more immediate considerations remain the company's 37.1X forward 12-month sales multiple, revenue volatility and execution risk around rinvatercept.
KROS’ Zacks Rank
Keros currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Keros Therapeutics, Inc. (KROS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (SRPT): Free Stock Analysis Report
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTCT): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).