Krystal Biotech Receives Permanent J-code (J3401) for VYJUVEK

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Krystal Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: KRYS), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of genetic medicines to treat diseases with high unmet medical needs, today announced that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned a permanent and product-specific J-code (J3401) for VYJUVEK (beremagene geperpavec-svdt), the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). The J-code for VYJUVEK became effective on January 1, 2024.

“The permanent J-code will help ensure efficient and accurate reimbursement of VYJUVEK and further enable us to bring this important treatment to DEB patients in need,” said Krish S. Krishnan, Chairman & CEO at Krystal Biotech.

J-codes are permanent reimbursement codes used by government payers and commercial insurers to facilitate billing of treatments that must be administered by a healthcare professional. J-codes simplify and streamline the billing and reimbursement processes, allowing for efficient claims processing.

The permanent J-code for VYJUVEK has been published by CMS and is available here.

About Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB)
DEB is a rare and severe disease that affects the skin and mucosal tissues. It is caused by one or more mutations in a gene called COL7A1, which is responsible for the production of the protein type VII collagen (COL7) that forms anchoring fibrils that bind the dermis (inner layer of the skin) to the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). The lack of functional anchoring fibrils in DEB patients leads to extremely fragile skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. DEB patients suffer from open wounds, which leads to skin infections, fibrosis which can cause fusion of fingers and toes, and ultimately an increased risk of developing an aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma which, in severe cases, can be fatal.

About VYJUVEK
VYJUVEK is a non-invasive, topical, redosable gene therapy designed to deliver two copies of the COL7A1 gene when applied directly to DEB wounds. VYJUVEK was designed to treat DEB at the molecular level by providing the patient’s skin cells the template to make normal COL7 protein, thereby addressing the fundamental disease-causing mechanism.