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PITTSBURGH - Jeune Aesthetics, a subsidiary of Krystal Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:KRYS), a $4.37 billion biotechnology company with impressive 93.2% gross profit margins, announced Thursday positive results from its Phase 1 study of KB304, an investigational treatment for wrinkles in the décolleté area. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a "GREAT" financial health score, positioning it well for continued clinical development.
The PEARL-2 study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 19 subjects, showed that 100% of patients receiving KB304 demonstrated improvement in wrinkles at three months after treatment as assessed by investigators, compared to 28.6% of those receiving placebo. This development comes as Krystal Biotech demonstrates strong financial performance, with revenue growth of 247.53% over the last twelve months. For deeper insights into KRYS’s growth metrics and 12+ additional ProTips, consider subscribing to InvestingPro.
KB304 is designed to deliver genes encoding collagen and elastin to skin cells. The treatment aims to address signs of aging by increasing levels of these proteins in the skin’s extracellular matrix.
According to the company, subjects receiving KB304 also reported improvements in skin elasticity, crepiness, hydration, and radiance. The safety profile was described as consistent with prior clinical experience, with mostly mild-to-moderate adverse events that decreased with subsequent doses.
"We believe that KB304 has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of wrinkles and skin quality by directly addressing the underlying biology of aging skin," said Marc Forth, Chief Executive Officer of Jeune, in the press release.
The company plans to advance KB304 into Phase 2 development and will meet with the FDA in the coming months. Jeune aims to initiate the Phase 2 study in the first half of 2026, focusing on the décolleté area, which currently has no FDA-approved injectable treatments.
The announcement comes as Jeune recently completed development of a décolleté-specific photonumeric scale (JDWS), which it intends to submit to the FDA in the second half of 2025.
The company held a conference call Thursday to discuss the study results and its clinical development program. With analysts setting a consensus target above current trading levels and the stock trading near its 52-week low of $122.80, investors seeking detailed valuation analysis can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which covers over 1,400 US equities.
In other recent news, Krystal Biotech has dosed the first patient in its Phase 1/2 EMERALD-1 trial evaluating KB801, an investigational eye drop gene therapy for neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a rare eye disease. This clinical trial marks a significant step forward for the company, as the study is a randomized, double-masked, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial set to enroll up to 27 adults with Stage 2 or Stage 3 NK. Participants will receive either KB801 or a placebo twice weekly for eight weeks. Following this development, Citi raised its price target for Krystal Biotech to $176, maintaining a Neutral rating, while H.C. Wainwright reiterated its Buy rating with a $240 price target. Clear Street also initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $190 price target, noting that the recent stock pullback due to weak Q1 2025 results was "overdone." Furthermore, H.C. Wainwright expressed optimism about the launch trajectory of Vyjuvek, a first-in-class therapy, ahead of Krystal Biotech’s upcoming Q2 2025 financial results expected in August. These developments reflect the ongoing interest and varied perspectives of analysts regarding Krystal Biotech’s progress and potential.
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