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Krystal Biotech Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 3 Clinical Trial of KB803 for the Treatment and Prevention of Corneal Abrasions in Patients with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Core Viewpoint - Krystal Biotech, Inc. has initiated its Phase 3 clinical trial named "IOLITE" to evaluate KB803 for treating and preventing corneal abrasions in patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) [1][2] Group 1: Clinical Trial Details - IOLITE is a double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study with a crossover design, focusing on KB803 administered as eye drops [4] - The trial will enroll approximately 16 subjects, with a primary endpoint measuring the change in average days per month with corneal abrasion symptoms while receiving KB803 versus placebo [5][6] - Patients must complete a 12-week run-in period in an ongoing natural history study before participating in IOLITE [4][5] Group 2: Patient Population and Disease Impact - Over 25% of DEB patients are believed to experience ocular complications, with more than 50% of patients suffering from the recessive form of DEB (RDEB) [2] - The estimated number of DEB patients in the U.S. exceeds 750, with over 2,000 affected globally [2] - Current management of DEB-related ocular complications is limited to supportive care and surgical interventions, with no corrective therapies available [2] Group 3: Previous Findings and Compassionate Use - A previous compassionate use case of KB803 demonstrated full corneal healing at three months and significant visual acuity improvement from hand motion to 20/25 by eight months [1][12] - The compassionate use case involved a patient with severe cicatrizing conjunctivitis secondary to DEB, treated with regular B-VEC administration [11][12] Group 4: Company Overview - Krystal Biotech, Inc. is a global biotechnology company focused on developing genetic medicines for diseases with high unmet medical needs [13] - The company’s first commercial product, VYJUVEK®, is the first-ever redosable gene therapy approved by the FDA and EMA for treating dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa [13]