BUZZ-Keros Therapeutics drops on halting lung disease trial on safety concerns

Shares of drug developer Keros Therapeutics KROS.O fall 10.26% to $11.20 premarket

Co says it has voluntarily halted all dosing in a mid-stage trial due to safety concerns

Adds is terminating the trial early, and patients are expected to be monitored through the end-of-trial visits

The mid-stage trial was studying its experimental drug cibotercept in combination with background therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare lung condition that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries

Earlier in Dec., co halted the 3.0 mg/kg and 4.5 mg/kg treatment based on the observation of pericardial effusions, build up of fluids around the heart, at those dose levels

Co has notified investigators and certain regulatory authorities, including the FDA, about this decision, and is in the process of notifying other relevant regulatory authorities

Stock fell ~60% last year

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru)

((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))