On March 8, 2022 DermTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMTK) ("DermTech" or the "Company"), a leader in precision dermatology enabled by a non-invasive skin genomics platform, reported that SKIN: The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine has published its original research study, with Daniel M. Siegel, MD, MS as the lead author (Press release, DermTech International, MAR 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234609702]). A nationally recognized reimbursement expert, Dr. Siegel is a clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a former president of the American Academy of Dermatology. By incorporating the Pigmented Lesion Assay ("PLA") into the current care pathway of assessing pigmented skin lesions or moles suspicious for melanoma, the study highlights the potential reduction in cost for commercial health insurance plans, in addition to a higher quality of care for patients and improved health outcomes.
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The PLA, a component of the DermTech Melanoma Test, objectively measures genomic markers associated with melanoma within skin tissue samples collected via non-invasive adhesive patches, or Smart Stickers. It is used to identify high-risk lesions and help providers determine the next best treatment: either a biopsy and histopathologic evaluation or clinical surveillance of the lesion in question. Comparatively, the traditional care pathway for evaluating suspicious moles is visual assessment, which is subjective, followed by a potentially avoidable surgical biopsy and histopathologic assessment.
The findings outlined in the publication, "Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Pigmented Lesion Assay When Introduced into the Visual Assessment / Histopathology Pathway for Lesions Clinically Suspicious for Melanoma," suggests that use of the PLA to rule out melanoma can minimize avoidable surgical procedures on benign lesions and decrease downstream costs of late-stage melanoma diagnoses, which reduces overall cost of care. To determine the per member per month ("PMPM") net savings of incorporating the PLA into the current care pathway, a Return on Investment ("ROI") model was developed from a U.S. payor perspective. This model predicted annual net savings of $0.54 PMPM for commercial health plans over a three-year period with incorporation of the PLA.
"There is a clear need for objective, cost-effective technologies to help improve the assessment, classification and management of skin lesions and moles suspicious for melanoma," said Dr. Siegel. "The PLA offers just that, helping to make sure that the lesions and moles most likely to be malignant are the ones being biopsied."
The published findings in SKIN can be found here: View Source
"This research study is a testament to how the PLA has the potential to reduce costs for health insurance plans and improve patient care by limiting the number of potentially avoidable biopsies," said John Dobak, MD, CEO of DermTech. "As we continue to leverage genomics to advance melanoma detection and dermatology as a whole, we continue to believe that the PLA has the potential to be incorporated into additional insurance plans."