DermTech, Inc. Announces Inclusion of Non-Invasive Genomic Patch Testing in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Cutaneous Melanoma Guidelines
January 13, 2021 at 02:31 am IST
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DermTech, Inc. announced that non-invasive genomic patch testing for melanoma, like DermTech’s Pigmented Lesion Assay (“PLA”), has received a recommendation from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (“NCCN”). The recommendation indicates that there is uniform NCCN consensus that the intervention is appropriate. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (the “NCCN Guidelines®”) for cutaneous melanoma recognize the use of noninvasive genomic patch testing to help guide biopsy decisions for cutaneous melanoma. The NCCN Guidelines® are the recognized standard for clinical policy in cancer care and the most detailed clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The recommendation for pre-diagnostic non-invasive genomic patch testing can be found in the latest edition, NCCN Guidelines® Version 1.21, Melanoma: Cutaneous, section ME-11, Common Follow-Up Recommendations for All Patients. The updated guidance now states: “Pre-diagnostic noninvasive genomic patch testing may also be helpful to guide biopsy decisions.” As a not-for-profit alliance of 30 leading cancer centers, the core resources made available by the NCCN are the NCCN Guidelines®. These guidelines are decision tools created by leading clinicians to explain a disease and help determine the best way to treat a patient, depending on their diagnosis, disease stage and other factors, such as age. The NCCN Guidelines® also help doctors make decisions, by explaining the pros and cons of each option. Covering 97% of all cancers affecting patients in the United States and updated on a continual basis, the NCCN Guidelines® are developed through explicit review of evidence (clinical trials, existing treatment protocol, etc.) integrated with expert medical judgment and recommendations by panels that are made up of representatives from the 30 NCCN Member Institutions.
DermTech, Inc. is a molecular diagnostic company. The Company is engaged in developing and marketing non-invasive genomics tests to aid in the diagnosis and management of melanoma. Its technology enhances evaluation of lesions suspicious for melanoma using non-invasive sample collection and detecting genomic markers associated with melanoma to identify higher risk lesions or rule out melanoma with a 99% or higher negative predictive value (NPV). It offers DermTech Melanoma Test (the DMT), which is a non-invasive way to enhance evaluation of pigmented lesions suspicious for melanoma. Its genomics platform has been designed to work with its Smart Sticker, which provides an easy and non-invasive way to collect a skin sample, in contrast to the existing standard of care of using a scalpel to biopsy suspicious lesions. It also provides its research services and technology platform on a contract basis to pharmaceutical companies that use the technology to support their clinical trials.