Krystal Biotech to open second Findlay Township facility

Krystal Biotech, a gene therapy company developing and commercializing treatments for patients suffering from rare diseases, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a second commercial gene therapy facility in Findlay Township.

The new 100,000-square-foot facility has been named ASTRA and will expand Krystal’s current production platform. It will be used as a commercial backup facility for B-VEC, a treatment for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a skin disorder. The facility also will produce investigational and commercial materials.

ASTRA is expected to be completed in 12 to 15 months and will create approximately 75 jobs. When at full capacity, it will have the potential to create as many as 200 positions.

“Biologics manufacturing is a complex science and is a competitive advantage for Krystal Biotech,” Krystal Chairman and CEO Krish S. Krishnan said. “We are very excited to announce the creation of ASTRA which will be a global resource for production of gene therapies with the potential to bring new treatments to rare disease patients around the world.”

The ceremony was attended by several local officials including Life Sciences Pennsylvania representatives, the regional economic development affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance President Christina Cassotis, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.