Neurotrophic Keratitis (NK) Market & KB801 Opportunity - The number of patients in the U S with at least one NK claim has increased by over 115% from 31,000 in 2020 to an estimated 68,000 in 2024[9, 10] - In 2023, U S Medicaid and Medicare spent over $540 million on Oxervate, the only FDA-approved therapy for NK[12] - An estimated over 410,000 days of Oxervate therapy were reimbursed in the U S in 2024[12] - KB801 is designed to address the shortcomings of Oxervate, aiming for superior NGF exposure with significantly reduced dosing frequency[11, 21] KB801 Preclinical Data - KB801 transduces primary human corneal epithelial cells in vitro, leading to dose-dependent expression and secretion of mature NGF[25, 26, 29] - In vitro studies confirmed functionality of secreted NGF using a growth factor starved cell proliferation assay[25, 30] - Topical administration of KB801 to wounded murine corneas was well-tolerated and resulted in localized NGF expression[25] - Head-to-head mouse PK studies demonstrated a clear durability advantage with KB801 compared to recombinant NGF, even against intensive recombinant dosing[43, 47] KB801 Clinical Development - The EMERALD-1 study is a Phase 1/2 double-masked, 2:1 randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with moderate-to-severe NK, with the first patient dosed in July 2025[51, 53, 1] - Krystal is pursuing Platform Technology Designation with the FDA, potentially leading to expedited development of KB801[56, 57]

Summary of Crystal Biotech's Conference Call on KB801 Company and Industry Overview - **Company**: Crystal Biotech - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on gene therapy for ophthalmic conditions, particularly neurotrophic keratitis (NK) Key Points and Arguments 1. **First Patient Dosed**: The first patient has been dosed in the EMERALD-one Phase 1/2 study evaluating KB801 for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis [2][5][22] 2. **Current Treatment Landscape**: NK is a rare, degenerative disease with only one FDA-approved therapy, Oxervate, which requires intensive dosing (six times daily) and has limitations such as rapid protein clearance and associated eye pain [7][9][10] 3. **Market Opportunity**: The estimated number of U.S. patients with an NK claim in 2024 is projected to be 68,000, representing a 115% increase from 2020 [7] 4. **KB801 Advantages**: KB801 aims to provide a more consistent nerve growth factor (NGF) exposure with a reduced treatment burden, potentially dosed once or twice weekly compared to Oxervate's six times daily regimen [10][24] 5. **Clinical Program Design**: EMERALD-one is a double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving up to 27 adult subjects with moderate to severe NK [22][23] 6. **Safety and Efficacy Focus**: The primary focus of the study is on the safety and tolerability of KB801, with secondary endpoints assessing efficacy through corneal defect closure and corneal sensitivity [23][24] 7. **Regulatory Confidence**: The company expresses confidence in obtaining an accelerated pathway for approval due to the existing knowledge from Oxervate and the favorable dosing regimen of KB801 [24][40][41] 8. **Platform Technology**: The HSV-1 based gene delivery platform is highlighted as versatile, with applications in multiple tissues (skin, lung, eye) and the potential for various genetic therapies [5][12][28] 9. **Future Pipeline**: The company has a diversified pipeline with ongoing programs in oncology, aesthetics, and skin, alongside KB801 and KB803, which are both in clinical stages [27][28] Additional Important Content 1. **Preclinical Data**: Preclinical studies indicate that KB801 can effectively transduce corneal epithelial cells, leading to sustained NGF production without cytotoxicity [15][18][19] 2. **Market Dynamics**: The company is actively engaging with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and clinical sites to facilitate patient enrollment, indicating a strong demand for new treatments in this space [79] 3. **Patient Compliance Issues**: The challenges of patient adherence to the current treatment regimen (Oxervate) are emphasized, with many patients unable to maintain the required dosing frequency [94] 4. **Potential for Faster Wound Closure**: There is optimism that KB801 could lead to faster wound closure compared to existing therapies, although the exact duration of treatment will be evaluated based on clinical data [76][81] 5. **Regulatory Interactions**: The company has had positive interactions with the FDA, which has provided feedback on the study design and expressed understanding of the product's profile [100][101] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, highlighting the strategic direction of Crystal Biotech and the potential impact of KB801 on the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.

Key Takeaways Shares of Krystal Biotech (KRYS) gained 4.2% on Tuesday after the company announced that it has dosed the first patient in the late-stage study evaluating its investigational candidate, KB803, for the treatment and prevention of corneal abrasions in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). KB803 is administered as an eye drop. Krystal Biotech's only marketed product, Vyjuvek, is currently FDA-approved for treating patients aged six months or older with DEB. The drug is referred to as B-VEC outs ...

Krystal Biotech, Inc. (KRYS) shares soared 4.2% in the last trading session to close at $143.67. The move was backed by solid volume with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This compares to the stock's 10.3% gain over the past four weeks.The stock price gain was observed after Krystal Biotech initiated dosing patients in its phase III IOLITE study of KB803 eye drops for DEB-related corneal damage. As a next-generation version of its approved gene therapy, Vyjuvek, KB803 targets a rare ...

Intra-patient, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study with crossover design Approximately 16 subjects will be enrolled in the IOLITE study. The sample size was calculated based on the average symptomatic days per month and standard deviation data from subjects enrolled in the natural history study who would be otherwise eligible for IOLITE and provides 90% power to detect an effect size of at least 25%, allowing for a dropout rate up to 20%. Enrolled patients will initially receive either a sin ...

Krystal Biotech (KRYS) reported first-quarter 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of $1.20, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.38.  Nonetheless, the reported EPS was up from 3 cents posted in the year-ago quarter. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.)Revenues of $88.1 million surged 95% year over year but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $95 million. Revenues came in solely from the sales of Vyjuvek.Shares of the company are trading down in response to the di ...

First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results May 6, 2025 © Copyright 2025 Krystal Biotech, Inc. All rights reserved. Forward Looking Statements and Disclosures This presentation and the accompanying oral presentation contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Any statements about future expectations, plans, and prospects for Krystal Biotech, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), including but not limited to statements about the Company's U.S. c ...

Krystal Biotech (KRYS) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 06, 2025 08:30 AM ET Speaker0 Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Crystal Biotech First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are on a listen only mode. After the speakers' presentations, there will be a question and answer session. As a reminder, today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your host, Stephane Paquette, Vice President of Corporate Development. Please begin. ...