Alignment With FDA on GMP Commercial Manufacturing Process for KB103 (Bercolagene telserpavec, B-VEC)KB105 Granted Fast Track Designation by the FDAPlatform Patent for Delivering any Effector to the Skin Granted by USPTO

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Krystal Biotech Inc., (Krystal) (KRYS), a gene therapy company developing medicines to treat dermatological diseases, announced financial results for third quarter 2019, recent corporate highlights and upcoming milestones.

"Following our CMC meeting, we believe we have a scalable GMP commercial process in place to fulfill future patient demand and anticipate a modest impact to our previously disclosed B-VEC timeline, said Krish S. Krishnan, chairman and chief executive officer of Krystal Biotech. We plan on announcing our agreement with the FDA on trial design and endpoints prior to initiating the B-VEC pivotal trial.

Corporate Highlights

CMC alignment and End of Phase 2 meeting

Positive results from Phase 1/2 trial of B-VEC

KB105

Patents

Pipeline

Financial results for the quarter endedSeptember 30, 2019

For additional information on the Companys financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, refer to form 10-Q filed as with the SEC.

About KB103KB103 is Krystals lead product candidate, currently in clinical development, seeks to use gene therapy to treat dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, or DEB, an incurable skin blistering condition caused by a lack of collagen in the skin.KB103 is a replication-defective, non-integrating viral vector that has been engineered using the HSV-1 virus employing Krystals STAR-D platform to deliver functional human COL7A1 genes directly to the patients dividing and non-dividing skin cells.Krystals vector can penetrate skin cells more efficiently than other viral vectors.Its high payload capacity allows it to accommodate large or multiple genes and its low immunogenicity makes it a suitable choice for direct and repeat delivery to the skin.

About Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, or DEBDystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, or DEB, is an incurable, often fatal skin blistering condition caused by a lack of collagen protein in the skin. It is caused by mutations in the gene coding for type VII collagen, or COL7, a major component of the anchoring fibrils, which anchor the epidermis to the underlying dermis, and provide structural adhesion in a normal individual. The lack of COL7 in DEB patients causes blisters to occur in the dermis as a result of separation from the epidermis.This makes the skin incredibly fragile, leading to blistering or skin loss at the slightest friction or knock. It is progressive and incredibly painful.

The most severe form of DEB is recessive DEB, or RDEB, which is caused by null mutations in the COL7A1 gene.DEB also occurs in the form of dominant DEB, or DDEB, which is considered to be a milder form of DEB.There are no known treatments which affect the outcome of either form of the disease, and the current standard of care for DEB patients is limited to palliative treatments.Krystalis developing KB-103 for the treatment of the broad DEB population, including both recessive and dominant forms of the disease.

About KB105KB105 is Krystals second product candidate, currently in clinical development, seeks to use gene therapy to treat patients with TGM-1 deficient ARCI. KB105 is a replication-defective, non-integrating viral vector that has been engineered employing Krystals STAR-D platform to deliver functional human TGM-1 gene directly to the patients dividing and non-dividing skin cells.

About Autosomal Recessive Congenital IchthyosisTransglutaminase 1 (TGM-1) is an essential epidermal enzyme that facilitates the formation of the epidermal barrier, which prevents dehydration, and protects the skin from unwanted toxins and surface microorganisms. The loss of TGM-1-activity results in the severe genetic skin disease autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI). Most patients with a TGM-1-deficiency exhibit life-long pronounced scaling with increased trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). The scales are plate-like, often of a dark color, and cover the whole-body surface area. Erythroderma is either absent or minimal. Such patients usually have ectropion and, at times, eclabium, hypoplasia of joint and nasal cartilage, scarring alopecia, especially at the edge of the scalp, and palmoplantar keratoderma. Additional complications include episodes of sepsis, fluid and electrolyte imbalances due to impaired skin barrier function, and failure to thrive, especially during neonatal period and infancy. Severe heat intolerance, and nail dystrophy are also frequently observed. TGM-1-deficient ARCI is associated with increased mortality in the neonatal period and has a dramatic impact on quality of life. No efficient treatment is available; current therapy only relieves some symptoms. There are approximately 23,000 cases of TGM1 deficient ARCI worldwide and about 400 new cases per year globally.

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About the STAR-D Gene Therapy PlatformKrystalhas developed a proprietary gene therapy platform, the Skin TARgeted Delivery platform, or STAR-D platform, that consists of an engineered HSV-1 viral vector and skin-optimized gene transfer technology, to develop off-the-shelf treatments for dermatological diseases. We believe that the STAR-D platform provides an optimal approach for treating dermatological conditions due to the nature of the vector. Certain inherent features of the HSV-1 virus, combined with the ability to strategically modify the virus in the form employed as a gene delivery backbone, provide the STAR-D platform with several advantages over other viral vector platforms for use in dermatological applications.

AboutKrystal BiotechKrystal Biotech, Inc.(KRYS) is a gene therapy company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel treatments for patients suffering from dermatological diseases. For more information, please visithttp://www.krystalbio.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes certain disclosures that contain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding development timelines for KB103, the ability of KB103 to be a transformative treatment option for DEB patients and the ability of our Ancoris manufacturing facility to supply KB103 for the forthcoming clinical trial . You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as anticipate, believes and expects. Forward-looking statements are based on Krystals current expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees nor assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Krystals filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statement on Form S-3, and in its Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as modified or supplemented from time to time, under the caption Risk Factors.

CONTACTS:

Investors:Ashley R. RobinsonLifeSci Advisorsarr@lifesciadvisors.com

Media:Darren Opland, PhD LifeSci Public Relationsdarren@lifescipublicrelations.com

Source: Krystal Biotech, Inc.

Link:
Krystal Biotech Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial and Operating Results - Yahoo Finance