Keros Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it plans to develop KER-065, a novel ligand trap designed to bind to and inhibit TGF-ss ligands, including myostatin (GDF8) and activin A, for the treatment of obesity. Preclinical data showed potential proof-of-mechanism of KER-065 for the treatment of obesity with a research form of KER-065 and a research form of another ActRII ligand trap closely related to KER-065 ("RER-034"). Based on this preclinical data, Keros believes that KER-065 has the potential to treat obesity both as a monotherapy and in combination with GLP-1 RA by increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat mass.

KER-065 is conducting a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-part Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate single and multiple ascending doses of KER-065 in healthy volunteers. The primary objectives of this trial are to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of KER-065. To aid in the assessment of adipose tissue, volunteers in Part 2 of this trial will be required to have a BMI between 27 and 33 kg/m2 to be enrolled.