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1020 Prospect Street, Suite 301
La Jolla, CA 92037-0068 USA
phone:858-450-4222
fax:858- 200-3877
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| Symbol |
Private |
| Founded |
2004 |
| Employees |
12 |
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| www.dermtech.com
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| Research Sector |
Medical Devices & Tech |
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| Summary Description |
| DermTech is a La Jolla-based biotechnology/medical device company developing patented, non-invasive skin tests to detect a range of diseases, especially those for which biopsies may be uncomfortable and where pathology readings may be inconclusive or inaccurate. |
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| Management |
| George B. Schwartz, CEO/President; Sherman Chang, PhD, Director, Molecular Biology; Jennifer Larson, Director, Business Development |
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| Keywords |
| Dermatology, skin, testing, safety, dna, services, products |
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| Description |
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DermTech is a La Jolla-based biotechnology company developing non-invasive tests to detect disease. Our lead product in development is MelDTect, the first genomic, non-invasive test to detect melanoma. The test has registered 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity in published studies. Based on the current market for skin checks, profit opportunity for this application is estimated ~$900 M annually. Instead of an initial biopsy, the platform EGIR (Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval) technology uses custom adhesive applied to the outer layer of the skin to harvest a person's cells. In the laboratory, RNA is extracted and analyzed to obtain a gene expression profile that is used with a proprietary biomarker to detect a range of diseases. DermTech holds the IP on the EGIR (“tape stripping”) technology for any application and on related biomarkers. |
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| Products / Services |
Melanoma Detection: Our lead product in development is MelDTect- the first non-invasive, genomic-based test to detect melanoma. MelDTect is based on DermTech's patented EGIR technology and our patent-pending melanoma biomarker, a collection of 17 genes we have identified that code for the presence of melanoma. In studies thus far, the test has registered 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The paper "Non-invasive Genomic Detection of Melanoma" by Wachsman et al. was published by the British Journal of Dermatology in April.
Other Applications: Additional key applications of the technology may include the detection other cancers and diseases using this same "tape stripping" technique. We have completed an early 450-patient study with UCSD evaluating the EGIR technology to identify prostate cancer and are speaking with disease-specific experts who believe it may be useful for the early detection of Alzheimer's Disease and other conditions.
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| Technology / Differentiation |
| The non-invasive EGIR (Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval) technology platform has been developed and patented by DermTech. The technology uses a piece of custom adhesive tape applied to the outer layer of the skin to harvest a person's cells. In the laboratory, RNA is extracted and analyzed using optimized molecular biology processes to obtain a unique gene expression profile with multiple high-value applications. DermTech holds the IP on the adhesive-based sampling of RNA from the body for any purpose as well as the IP on related biomarkers. |
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| Market / Customers |
Based on current American Academy of Dermatology guidelines for skin checks (for high-risk individuals) in the US and standard practice in other countries, it is estimated very conservatively that the market potential "as is" will be $900 million or more per year. With funding we expect to begin the clinical trial in under 14 months. We have international dermatology opinion leaders ready to begin the study. The trial will take approx 12 months and we foresee launching in Europe and Australia in 2014, with US launch pending FDA approvals shortly therafter.
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| Status |
| The future plan is to provide a method for reliable sample collection by a broad range of medical personnel in an outpatient setting. |
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Biotech & Specialty Pharma
Healthcare Services
Medical Devices & Tech
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