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DermTech Offers Tele-dermatology Solution

Telemedicine — tele-dermatology to be more exact — has been on DermTech Inc.’s radar for a while. The pandemic brought on a sense of urgency to the Torrey Pines-based biotech company.

It was estimated that in late March and early April, 80% of dermatologist offices were closed.

Now, offices are opening up, but will patients be reluctant to visit?

DermTech found support for its solution among its colleagues at a recent virtual conference of more than 1,000 dermatologists. There was a vote on the Top 10 tips for delivering dermatology in the pandemic. According to the DermTech, its tele-dermatology melanoma solution was voted the No. 2.

Making Converts

“Once patients try it, they are going to stick with it” said DermTech CEO John Dobak M.D. “Loose restrictions might tighten a bit, but the cat is out of the bag. I think it will be a major shift in how health care is delivered. Once patients try it (tele-dermatology), they will not want to go back to the doctor’s office unless they have to.”

DermTech has designed a telemedicine version of its PLA (pigmented lesion assay). In the diagnostic, an adhesive patch is used to collect samples in a suspicious mole — those showing a sign of the ABCDEs of melanoma: asymmetry, borders, color, diameter and evolution.

DermTech said it was the first company to find a solution to the early detection of melanoma without surgeries

Using Genomics

Genomic analysis shows whether the mole is non-cancerous or if a biopsy is needed.

Dobak said the company does its own analysis and can do any genetic analysis needed. It has a high complexity molecular lab onsite.

In the telemedicine version, a clinician must order the test, and a doctor or nurse must provide guidance. This is to make sure the appropriate mole is checked, according to the company. The patient simply follows the instructions and returns the sample to Derm Tech.

DermTech began as CRO providing clinical trial services for pharma companies working on dermatology drugs, Dobak said.

A First

“There were lots of requests back then for better way to do genomics analysis without requiring surgical biopsy, Dobak said. “Patients signing up for trials don’t want to be biopsied four or five times. So, we looked at the idea of using patches to collect samples. We were really first to do that.

We designed the technology and offered it as a diagnostic solution for dermatology in general.”

Today, according to the company, DermTech has a platform with a deep selection of products. It is working on the non-melanoma skin cancer area, too. Similar to the melanoma solution, a patient can have lesions tested to see if they need to be biopsied. Dobak said there are important in-office and telemedicine opportunities there, too. The company is working on product to measure the level of sun damage done to a people, and it will provide products that can help you reduce the mutation level.

“It is an exciting company with a big platform,” Dobak said.

Meanwhile, the company said it is working on ways to enhance and advance its tele-dermatology.

“We are redesigning our collection kits so it is easier to use with step by step instructions, Dobak said. “We are working on ways to streamline the whole process, and we believe that will help facilitate the adoption of this telemedicine solution.”

Design Team

DermTech enlisted a medical and industrial design firm to help. According to DermTech, the firm evaluated all the steps patients and doctors have to go through and reduced that into clear and easy to follow steps. Even instructions and packaging are considered.

DermTech is also looking at providing a mobile app where a patient can take a pic of mole and very quickly and easily send to dermatologist who can order the company’s test if the mole meets the criteria. “We are working on ways to streamline the process which will facilitate adoption of tele-med solutions,” Dobak said.

Dobak gave his customer service team credit for keeping the process moving. “We’ve a good team, Dobak said. “They’ve risen to the occasion.”

All the teams are working.

Looking to Partner

“Our sales team is educating dermatologists — remotely,” Dobak said. “We are looking to partner with others who deliver tele-dermatology services and can add to the offerings.”

As for reimbursement, Medicare recently started paying, so the commercial payors will likely follow. States are now paying as if telemedicine was an office visit.

Dobak said the the sample volume — which reflects demand for the test — was up 150% for the first quarter..

As for accuracy, it would be tough to beat DermTech. Its negative predictive value (a number you want as high as possible in cancer diagnosis) is 99%. The company said the chance that it missed a diagnosis is less than 1%.

“We are having a lot of fun,” Dobak said. “We are changing the way medicine is practiced. Most companies bring incremental change. We (DermTech) have a transformative product.

It is non-invasive, more accurate, at a lower cost.”

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