Benzinga | Apr 27, 2021 04:43PM EDT

DermTech to Collaborate on Longitudinal Study on Hidradenitis Suppurativa

DermTech, Inc. (NASDAQ:DMTK) ("DermTech"), a leader in precision dermatology enabled by a non-invasive skin genomics platform, announced today a collaboration with researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine, led by principal investigator, Kavita Sarin, MD, PhD, on research titled, "A Study of Longitudinal Non-Invasive Cytokine Monitoring in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa." This collaboration highlights DermTech's commitment to using precision genomics and personalized dermatology approaches to improve the understanding of dermatological diseases.

Hidradenitis suppurativa ("HS"), also known as acne inversa, is a chronic skin condition characterized by recurrent swollen and painful lesions in the armpit (axillae), groin, anal, and breast regions. The primary etiology of HS is not well defined, and consequently in many cases it can take more than seven years from disease onset to properly diagnose HS. The three-year study will utilize DermTech's non-invasive sample collection and precision genomics platform to identify and longitudinally evaluate biomarkers in patients with HS. Specifically, this study will use DermTech's proprietary technology to phenotypically characterize HS, identify potential subsets of HS, and aid in treatment decisions.

"Hidradenitis suppurativa is a debilitating skin condition associated with a significant psycho-social burden and an unmet diagnostic and therapeutic need. We are excited to collaborate with the team at Stanford to longitudinally evaluate biomarkers that are associated with disease flares in HS and are committed to improving our understanding of HS as we strive to use precision and personalized dermatology approaches to positively impact those suffering from the disease," said Michael Howell, PhD, DermTech's chief scientific officer.