The story of Krish Krishnan begins with a strong technical foundation. Armed with an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, one of India’s most prestigious institutions, he developed the analytical rigor that would define his career. He later earned a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Toledo and completed his MBA in Finance at The Wharton School.
This blend of engineering discipline and financial strategy became Krish Krishnan’s competitive edge. He began his career as a Senior Engineer at DuPont (E.I. Dupont de Nemours), gaining early exposure to scientific innovation within a corporate framework. But it was clear he was destined for bigger arenas.
Krish Krishnan: Building Momentum – IPOs, Acquisitions, and Blockbusters
Long before Krystal Biotech became synonymous with breakthrough gene therapy, Krish Krishnan had already carved out a formidable reputation in biotech leadership.
At New River Pharmaceuticals, where he served as CFO and COO, he played a pivotal role in the approval of Vyvanse, a groundbreaking ADHD treatment approved in 2007. The company’s trajectory culminated in a $2.6 billion acquisition by Shire plc — a defining moment in his executive career.
He later became COO of Intrexon Corporation (now Precigen), contributing to another successful IPO and expanding his experience in advanced biological platforms.
Krish Krishnan’s entrepreneurial instincts also led him to serve as CEO of Pinnacle Pharmaceuticals and Harvest Pharmaceuticals, advancing innovative therapies from discovery into clinical development. Earlier in his career, as Managing Principal of Suppliermarket.com, he helped guide its sale to Ariba for $500 million — demonstrating his ability to scale ventures across industries.
Each chapter reinforced a core lesson: value is created at the intersection of science, strategy, and speed.
Founding Krystal Biotech: A Mission Rooted in Compassion
In 2016, alongside his wife and scientific partner, Suma Krishnan, Krish Krishnan co-founded Krystal Biotech in Pittsburgh.
Their vision was ambitious: develop a redosable, topical gene therapy platform capable of delivering transformative treatments to patients suffering from rare genetic diseases. The company focused on dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), a devastating skin disorder that leaves patients with fragile, blistering skin and chronic wounds.
For years, DEB patients had no approved treatment addressing the genetic root cause.
That changed under Krish Krishnan’s leadership.
Krish Krishnan: VYJUVEK® – A Historic Breakthrough
In May 2023, Krystal Biotech achieved a historic milestone with FDA approval of VYJUVEK®, the world’s first topical, redosable gene therapy. Using a modified herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) vector, the therapy delivers functional COL7A1 genes directly to patients’ skin.
The breakthrough was more than scientific — it was symbolic. It proved that gene therapy could be practical, repeatable, and commercially viable.
Financially, the results were equally remarkable:
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2024 Net Product Revenue: $290.5 million
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Gross Margins: 93%
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Net Income: $89.2 million
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Five-year cumulative TSR: ~183% vs. 13.6% for the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index
In February 2025, Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion for VYJUVEK®, with a European Commission decision anticipated soon thereafter.
Under Krish Krishnan, Krystal Biotech didn’t just launch a product — it validated an entirely new model of gene therapy delivery.
Scaling Beyond Rare Disease: The STAR-D Platform
Krish Krishnan’s vision does not stop at DEB. He is expanding Krystal’s proprietary STAR-D platform into new therapeutic territories, including cystic fibrosis and pulmonary diseases.
But perhaps the boldest extension of that technology lies in aesthetics.
In 2019, Krystal launched Jeune Aesthetics, a subsidiary designed to apply the same HSV-based delivery platform to aesthetic medicine. Its lead candidate, KB301, aims to deliver collagen-enhancing genes to improve signs of aging, such as crow’s feet.
Krish Krishnan’s reasoning was strategic:
Rare disease and aesthetics operate in fundamentally different markets — different investors, different reimbursement models, different expectations.
By structurally separating Jeune Aesthetics, he preserved Krystal’s rare disease focus while unlocking commercial optionality in a high-growth aesthetic segment.
This move illustrates his hallmark leadership style — bold yet disciplined, visionary yet pragmatic.
A Leadership Philosophy Rooted in Ownership
As of early 2026, Krish Krishnan’s estimated net worth exceeds $817 million, largely tied to his KRYS holdings. But what distinguishes him is not personal wealth — it is alignment. His wealth rises and falls with shareholders, reinforcing long-term thinking.
He leads as both architect and steward.
Board experience at Biotie Therapies and Thar Pharmaceuticals further broadened his global perspective. Across every venture, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to scale science into sustainable enterprise.