Krystal Biotech Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results
VYJUVEK approved in
Second ophthalmic program in clinic - KB801 for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis
Upcoming clinical readouts in 2025 - CF, AATD, ocular complications of DEB, and aesthetics
Strong balance sheet, ending the quarter with
"We were thrilled to receive VYJUVEK approval in
VYJUVEK® (beremagene geperpavec-svdt, or B-VEC)
for the Treatment of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB)
- In April, the
European Commission approved VYJUVEK for the treatment of wounds in patients with DEB who have mutations in the collagen type VII alpha 1 chain (COL7A1) gene, starting from birth. The Company is on track for its first European launch inGermany in mid-2025. - The Company recorded
$88.2 million in VYJUVEK net product revenue for the first quarter of 2025. Gross margin for the quarter was 94%. - As of April, the Company has secured over 540 reimbursement approvals for VYJUVEK in the
U.S. and continues to maintain strong access nationwide including positive access determinations for 97% of lives covered under commercial and Medicaid plans. - High patient compliance with weekly treatment while on drug continued at 83% as of the end of the quarter.
- The Company continues to expect a decision by Japan’s
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) on its Japan New Drug Application (JNDA) in 2H 2025. - In April, the
British Journal of Dermatology published a case highlighting the success of VYJUVEK in promoting durable wound healing following surgical excision of a large squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a recessive DEB patient. The treated patient reported complete healing of their over 100 cm2 post-surgical wound after seven weeks of VYJUVEK therapy. Wound healing benefits were durable, with complete wound closure also observed upon clinical examination at four and ten month post-operative visits. - In April, the results of the Company’s open label extension (OLE) study of VYJUVEK in DEB patients were published in the
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology .
Respiratory
KB407 for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF)
- The Company continues to enroll Cohort 3 of CORAL-1, the Company’s multi-center, dose escalation study evaluating KB407 in patients with CF, regardless of their underlying genotype. The Company received full sanctioning of the study protocol by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutic Development Network in January and remains on track for an interim molecular data readout for Cohort 3 patients in mid-2025. Details of the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT identifier NCT05504837.
KB408 for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) lung disease
- The Company continues to enroll in Cohort 2 and is working to enroll in Cohort 3 of SERPENTINE-1, the Company’s open label, single dose escalation study in adult patients with AATD with a Pi*ZZ or a Pi*ZNull genotype. Late last year, the Company announced successful SERPINA1 gene delivery and functional alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) expression reaching therapeutic levels as part of an interim clinical update for Cohorts 1 and 2 of SERPENTINE-1. Inhaled KB408 was safe and well-tolerated at both tested dose levels. The Company expects to report molecular results for the additional Cohort 2 and 3 patients later this year. Details about the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT identifier: NCT06049082.
Ophthalmology
KB803 for the treatment of ocular complications of DEB
- The Company continues to enroll in its ongoing natural history study to prospectively collect data on the frequency of corneal abrasions in patients with DEB and serve as a run-in period for patients who may be eligible to participate in the Company’s registrational Phase 3 study evaluating KB803’s effect on ocular complications of DEB. The Company expects to dose the first patient in the registrational KB803 Phase 3 IOLITE study later this month.
KB801 for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis (NK)
- In April, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Company’s investigational new drug (IND) application to evaluate KB801, the Company’s second clinical-stage ophthalmology program, for the treatment of NK. NK is a rare, degenerative corneal disease caused by nerve damage in the eye leading to corneal epithelial defects, ulcers, and perforation, with an estimated prevalence in the range of 10 to 50 cases per 100,000. KB801 was developed using the Company’s novel replication-defective, non-integrating HSV-1-based vector and is designed to deliver two transgene copies to the corneal epithelium as an eye drop to enable local nerve growth factor (NGF) production and corneal healing. Recombinant NGF eye drops have been shown to significantly improve corneal healing and are approved for the treatment of NK in multiple jurisdictions worldwide includingthe United States , but the short half-life of recombinant protein results in rapid clearance from the eye, thereby necessitating burdensome administration six times a day, and may lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes. Eye pain during treatment is also frequently reported. - In preclinical development, KB801 was shown to efficiently transduce corneal epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo leading to sustained NGF production in the front of the eye. By transducing the cells of the corneal epithelium to produce and secrete NGF, KB801 has the potential to significantly reduce the treatment burden for patients while also maintaining more consistent NGF levels in the front of the eye. Yesterday, the Company presented preclinical safety and efficacy data supporting the clinical development of KB801 at the
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2025 Annual Meeting. - The Company expects to dose the first patient in EMERALD-1, the Company’s randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 1/2 study evaluating KB801 in moderate-to-severe NK patients, later this month.
Oncology
Inhaled KB707 for the treatment of solid tumors of the lung
- Enrollment is ongoing in the Company’s KYANITE-1 study, a Phase 1/2 open label, multi-center, dose escalation and expansion study evaluating inhaled KB707, as monotherapy or in combination, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors of the lung. Near the end of last year, the Company announced early clinical evidence of monotherapy activity in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with inhaled KB707, achieving an objective response rate of 27% and disease control rate of 73% as of data cut-off. Details of the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT identifier NCT06228326.
- A clinical update on the monotherapy cohort from KYANITE-1 is expected to be presented at the 2025
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting next month.
Intratumoral KB707 for the treatment of injectable solid tumors
- The Company continues to enroll in OPAL-1, a Phase 1/2 open label, multi-center, dose escalation and expansion study evaluating intratumoral KB707, either as monotherapy or in combination, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumor malignancies. Details of the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT identifier NCT05970497.
Aesthetics
KB301 for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles of the décolleté
- Jeune Aesthetics is currently developing a décolleté-specific photo numeric scale for advanced clinical development of KB301. Jeune Aesthetics expects to align with the FDA on the scale and enroll the first subject in a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study evaluating KB301 for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles of the décolleté in Q4 2025.
KB304 for the treatment of wrinkles
- In February, Jeune Aesthetics completed enrollment in PEARL-2, an ongoing, randomized and placebo-controlled Phase 1 study evaluating KB304 for the treatment of wrinkles. Jeune Aesthetics expects to report top-line results from the study in 2H 2025. Details of the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT identifier NCT06724900.
Dermatology
KB105 for the treatment of lamellar ichthyosis
- The Company expects to initiate the Phase 2 portion of its KB105 Phase 1/2 JADE-1 trial evaluating KB105 for the treatment of TGM1-deficient lamellar ichthyosis in pediatric patients in 2026.
Pipeline expansion
- The Company will be presenting preclinical data at the
Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) 2025 Annual Meeting later this week on early-stage dermatology genetic medicine candidates for the treatment of Hailey-Hailey and Darier diseases.
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended
- Cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled
$765.3 million as ofMarch 31, 2025 . - Product revenue, net totaled
$88.2 million and$45.3 million for the quarters endedMarch 31, 2025 andMarch 31, 2024 , respectively. - Cost of goods sold totaled
$5.0 million and$2.4 million for the quarters endedMarch 31, 2025 andMarch 31, 2024 , respectively. - Research and development expenses for the quarter ended
March 31, 2025 were$14.3 million , inclusive of$2.5 million of stock-based compensation, compared to$11.0 million , inclusive of stock-based compensation of$1.9 million for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2024 . - Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the quarter ended
March 31, 2025 were$32.7 million , inclusive of stock-based compensation of$11.0 million , compared to$26.1 million , inclusive of stock-based compensation of$7.4 million , for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2024 . - Net income for the quarter ended
March 31, 2025 was$35.7 million , or$1.24 per common share (basic) and$1.20 per common share (diluted). Net income for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2024 was$0.9 million , or$0.03 per common share (basic) and$0.03 per common share (diluted).
Financial Guidance
| ($ in millions) | FY 2025 Guidance | |
(1) Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for additional information. Non-GAAP combined R&D and SG&A expense guidance does not include stock-based compensation as we are currently unable to confidently estimate Full Year 2025 stock-based compensation expense. As such, we have not provided a reconciliation from forecasted non-GAAP to forecasted GAAP combined R&D and SG&A Expense in the above. This could materially affect the calculation of forward-looking GAAP combined R&D and SG&A Expense as it is inherently uncertain.
Conference Call
The Company will host an investor webcast on
Investors and the general public can access the live webcast at:
https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3018/52291
For those unable to listen to the live conference call, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.krystalbio.com.
About VYJUVEK
VYJUVEK is a non-invasive, topical, redosable gene therapy designed to deliver two copies of the COL7A1 gene when applied directly to DEB wounds. VYJUVEK was designed to treat DEB at the molecular level by providing the patient’s skin cells the template to make normal COL7 protein, thereby addressing the fundamental disease-causing mechanism. VYJUVEK is approved in
VYJUVEK is a herpes-simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vector-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of wounds in patients six months of age and older with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa with mutation(s) in the collagen type VII alpha 1 chain (COL7A1) gene.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse drug reactions (incidence >5%) were itching, chills, redness, rash, cough, and runny nose. These are not all the possible side effects with VYJUVEK. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact
Contraindications
None.
Warnings and Precautions
VYJUVEK gel must be applied by a healthcare provider.
After treatment, patients and caregivers should be careful not to touch treated wounds and dressings for 24 hours.
Wash hands and wear protective gloves when changing wound dressings. Disinfect bandages from the first dressing change with a virucidal agent, and dispose of the disinfected bandages in a separate sealed plastic bag in household waste. Dispose of the subsequent used dressings in a sealed plastic bag in household waste.
Patients should avoid touching or scratching wound sites or wound dressings.
In the event of an accidental exposure flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes.
For more information, see full
About
About
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes forward-looking combined R&D and SG&A expense guidance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with,
CONTACT
Investors and Media:
spaquette@krystalbio.com
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
2025 |
2024 |
||||||
| (in thousands) | (unaudited) | ||||||
| Balance sheet data: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 308,770 | $ | 344,865 | |||
| Short-term investments | 308,076 | 252,652 | |||||
| Long-term investments | 148,472 | 152,114 | |||||
| Total assets | 1,074,416 | 1,055,838 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 89,742 | 109,458 | |||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 984,674 | $ | 946,380 | |||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
| Three Months Ended |
|||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | Change | |||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | (unaudited) | ||||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||
| Product revenue, net | $ | 88,183 | $ | 45,250 | $ | 42,933 | |||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 5,028 | 2,419 | 2,609 | ||||||||
| Research and development | 14,255 | 10,957 | 3,298 | ||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative | 32,723 | 26,058 | 6,665 | ||||||||
| Litigation settlement | — | 12,500 | (12,500 | ) | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 52,006 | 51,934 | 72 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | 36,177 | (6,684 | ) | 42,861 | |||||||
| Other income | |||||||||||
| Interest and other income, net | 7,420 | 7,616 | (196 | ) | |||||||
| Income before income taxes | 43,597 | 932 | 42,665 | ||||||||
| Income tax expense | (7,864 | ) | — | (7,864 | ) | ||||||
| Net income | $ | 35,733 | $ | 932 | $ | 34,801 | |||||
| Net income per common share: | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.24 | $ | 0.03 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.20 | $ | 0.03 | |||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 28,815 | 28,295 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 29,871 | 29,291 | |||||||||
Source: Krystal Biotech, Inc.