Azitra stock soars after positive preclinical data for ichthyosis treatment

Investing.com -- Azitra Inc (NYSE:AZTR) stock surged 42.3% in premarket trading Monday following the announcement of positive preclinical data for its ATR-01 program targeting ichthyosis vulgaris, a skin condition caused by missing or abnormal filaggrin levels.

The clinical stage biopharmaceutical company revealed that its engineered strain of S. epidermidis, ATR01-616, demonstrated encouraging results across multiple preclinical models. The strain, which secretes functional human filaggrin protein, showed positive pharmacology in laboratory tests and effectively delivered filaggrin through the skin barrier in ex vivo human skin models.

According to the company, ATR01-616 significantly reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in an ex vivo damaged pig skin model. This suggests potential effectiveness in addressing the underlying pathophysiology of ichthyosis vulgaris, which affects approximately 1.3 million people in the U.S. who currently have limited treatment options beyond symptom management.

"We’re thrilled to announce positive preclinical data for our ATR-01 program during BIO-EUROPE as we advance towards a first-in-human clinical trial in ichthyosis vulgaris," said Francisco Salva, CEO of Azitra . The company plans to provide further updates on this program in 2026, including details about first-in-human studies.

The data will be presented virtually by Azitra’s Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer, Travis Whitfill, at the BIO-Europe conference in Vienna, Austria, taking place November 3-5, 2025. Dr. Whitfill will also provide updates on Azitra’s two clinical programs, ATR-12 and ATR-04, and conduct meetings with registered investors and potential partners during the conference.

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