Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 2 Interventional Ages 9 and up Men only

KER-065 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: safety and potential benefit in boys and men

Official title: A Multicenter, Phase 2, Open-Label Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of KER-065 in Participants With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Run by Keros Therapeutics, Inc. · NCT07704099 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether KER-065 is safe and can help with symptoms in males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, including both ambulatory and nonambulatory participants who are on standard care.

More Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages9 Years and up
SexMen only
Enrollment36 (estimated)
SponsorKeros Therapeutics, Inc.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsprednisone
Locations4 sites (Tbilisi and 3 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 25, 2026
Main results expectedAugust 26, 2028
Study endsSeptember 23, 2028
Registry record updatedNovember 4, 2026
Trial IDNCT07704099 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, including both ambulatory and early nonambulatory individuals, on a stable corticosteroid regimen and meeting weight and genetic criteria.

Probably not a fit

Participants who do not experience a response or who discontinue due to safety issues or progression of disease may not receive a benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a Phase 2, multicenter, open-label trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and potential efficacy of KER-065 in adult and pediatric males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on stable background therapy. Participants are enrolled into one of three cohorts based on walking ability: two late ambulatory cohorts and one early nonambulatory cohort, and will go through screening, a 48-week treatment period, and a 4-week safety follow-up. The study will measure functional and biomarker outcomes to determine if KER-065 can provide benefit beyond current therapies. Key eligibility includes confirmed DMD with ongoing corticosteroid treatment and weight criteria, with specific functional criteria for ambulatory and nonambulatory groups.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience stabilization or improvement in muscle function or slowing of disease progression while on KER-065.

How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in similar fusion protein approaches for DMD have shown signals of safety and potential functional benefits in early-phase trials, though this specific agent is investigational.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Key Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of DMD, defined as the presence of phenotypic features at screening consistent with DMD AND documented mutation in the dystrophin gene consistent with the diagnosis of DMD using a clinically validated genetic test.
* Receiving a stable regimen of systemic CS (including, but not limited to, prednisone, prednisolone, deflazacort, or vamorolone) for at least 90 days before screening.
* Body weight of ≥ 25.0 kg.

Ambulatory Participants Only (Cohort A1 and A2):

* Ambulatory, defined as able to walk independently without assistive devices.
* Able to TTR in \< 10 seconds.
* Has a NSAA score ≥ 15 points.
* Cohort 2 only: Documentation of a stable dose of an approved exon-skipping therapy.

Nonambulatory Participants Only (Cohort N1):

* Nonambulatory, characterized as being unable to ambulate for a minimum of 3 months before first dose with onset of nonambulatory status AND a NSAA walk score of 0 and inability to perform the 10MWR.
* PUL v2.0 entry item score of 3 to 5, inclusive.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* Clinical symptoms or signs of cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
* Exposure to any approved or investigational dystrophin restoration gene therapy product.
* Exposure to any approved or investigational dystrophin restoration product other than gene therapy (Except for exon-skipping therapy for Cohort A2).
* Exposure to any approved or investigational histone deacetylase inhibitor, antimyostatin therapy, therapy targeting transforming growth factor-beta ligands, or cell-based therapy.
* Use of any other pharmacological treatment, except for CS
* Treatment with immunosuppressant therapy (other than CS)
* History of fracture of the upper limb

Nonambulatory Participants Only (Cohort N1):

* Elbow-flexion contractures \> 30° in both upper extremities.
* Forced vital capacity (FVC) of \< 50% or requirement for daytime or nocturnal ventilation, except for nocturnal non-invasive ventilation AND inability to perform consistent FVC measurements within ± 15% during paired testing.

Where it's running

  • Optimal Clinical Trials
    Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
    Recruiting
  • NZCR-Christchurch
    Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
    Recruiting
  • LTD TIM - Tbilisi Institute of Medicine
    Tbilisi, Georgia
    Not yet recruiting
  • Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology LTD
    Tbilisi, Georgia
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.