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TICKERS: KRON

Leadership Cuts Won't Slow This Biotech
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While three executive officers have been cut from Kronos Bio Inc., it is still a Buy, according to an H.C. Wainwright & Co. report.

Kronos Bio, Inc. (KRON:NASDAQ), a biotechnology company, recently decided to streamline its executive leadership team by eliminating three C-suite roles — Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, and Chief Operating Officer plus General Counsel, according to H.C. Wainwright & Co. analysts Robert Burns and Dr. Raghuram Selvaraju in a January 26 research note.

This was presented by management as a cost-cutting measure rather than being related to pending clinical trial results or changes in research strategy.

Specifically, they stated that the pending mid-2024 results from expansion cohorts of the KB-0742 trial did not factor into the terminations, as that data has not been collected yet. Additionally, they asserted that this does not represent a major shift in Kronos' overall R&D approach and programs.

Due to severance payments for the terminated executives, Kronos expects around US$2 million in additional 1Q2024 operating expenses. However, management maintains confidence that the company's current finances can fund operations into 2026.

The analysts also touched on the company's pending data. 

"We look forward to KB-0742 expansion cohort data in mid-2024," the analysts wrote.

Kronos Bio recently presented interim Phase 1 data on its oral CDK9 inhibitor drug, KB-0742. The trial has enrolled 28 patients who have received a median of 3.5 prior cancer therapies so far. 

Last year, Kronos selected a 60mg dose of KB-0742 as the recommended Phase 2 dose. At this dose level, KB-0742 reduced levels of f phosphorylated Ser2 on RNA polymerase II (pSer2), a direct target of CDK9, by around 50% in patients' immune cells.

This degree of target engagement matched anti-tumor activity seen in preclinical models. KB-0742 also showed a 24-hour half-life in the body and accumulated 2- to 2.5-fold after ten days of dosing.

In the dose escalation portion of the trial, one patient with myxoid liposarcoma experienced a partial response to KB-0742 treatment. However, the analysts said, "In our opinion, it is premature to view the low response rate as indicative of KB-0742's potential since the dose-escalation portion of this trial did not select patients for MYC amplification, as will be the case in dose expansion." The analysts also stated that dose escalation is still ongoing at 80mg, and this higher dose could also be explored further.

In terms of the stock's valuation, the analysts wrote, "We value Kronos Bio using a discounted cash flow (DCF)-driven methodology, ascribing a 10% probability of approval to KB-0742 in MYC-amplified solid tumors," the analysts said. 

They reiterated their Buy rating on Kronos Bio and gave the company a US$2.50 target price. 


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Disclosures for H.C. Wainwright & Co., Kronos Bio Inc., January 26, 2024

This material is confidential and intended for use by Institutional Accounts as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c). It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity or other legal rules. If you have received it by mistake, please let us know by e-mail reply to [email protected] and delete it from your system; you may not copy this message or disclose its contents to anyone. The integrity and security of this message cannot be guaranteed on the Internet.

H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO, LLC RATING SYSTEM: H.C. Wainwright employs a three tier rating system for evaluating both the potential return and risk associated with owning common equity shares of rated firms. The expected return of any given equity is measured on a RELATIVE basis of other companies in the same sector. The price objective is calculated to estimate the potential movements in price that a given equity could reach provided certain targets are met over a defined time horizon. Price objectives are subject to external factors including industry events and market volatility.

H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC (the “Firm”) is a member of FINRA and SIPC and a registered U.S. Broker-Dealer. I, Robert Burns and Raghuram Selvaraju, Ph.D. , certify that 1) all of the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about any and all subject securities or issuers discussed; and 2) no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendation or views expressed in this research report; and 3) neither myself nor any members of my household is an officer, director or advisory board member of these companies. None of the research analysts or the research analyst’s household has a financial interest in the securities of Kronos Bio, Inc. (including, without limitation, any option, right, warrant, future, long or short position). As of December 31, 2023 neither the Firm nor its affiliates beneficially own 1% or more of any class of common equity securities of Kronos Bio, Inc.. Neither the research analyst nor the Firm knows or has reason to know of any other material conflict of interest at the time of publication of this research report.

The research analyst principally responsible for preparation of the report does not receive compensation that is based upon any specific investment banking services or transaction but is compensated based on factors including total revenue and profitability of the Firm, a substantial portion of which is derived from investment banking services. Mr. Selvaraju, who is [the][an] author of this report, is the Chairman of and receives compensation from Relief Therapeutics Holding SA, a Swiss, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company identifying, developing and commercializing novel, patent protected products in selected specialty, rare and ultra-rare disease areas on a global basis ("Relief"). You should consider Mr. Selvaraju's position with Relief when reading this research report. The Firm or its affiliates did not receive compensation from Kronos Bio, Inc. for investment banking services within twelve months before, but will seek compensation from the companies mentioned in this report for investment banking services within three months following publication of the research report. The Firm does not make a market in Kronos Bio, Inc. as of the date of this research report.

The securities of the company discussed in this report may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial position. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This report is offered for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities discussed herein in any jurisdiction where such would be prohibited. This research report is not intended to provide tax advice or to be used to provide tax advice to any person. Electronic versions of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC research reports are made available to all clients simultaneously. No part of this report may be reproduced in any form without the expressed permission of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC. Additional information available upon request.

H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC does not provide individually tailored investment advice in research reports. This research report is not intended to provide personal investment advice and it does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments and implementing investment strategies discussed or recommended in this research report. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC’s and its affiliates’ salespeople, traders, and other professionals may provide oral or written market commentary or trading strategies that reflect opinions that are contrary to the opinions expressed in this research report. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees, excluding its analysts, will from time to time have long or short positions in, act as principal in, and buy or sell, the securities or derivatives (including options and warrants) thereof of covered companies referred to in this research report.

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