DERMTECH AND UCSF COLLABORATE TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL OF COMPANY’S EGIR TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP NOVEL COMPOUNDS FOR ANTI-AGING AND ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Venture Spawned by Nature Publishing Group’s Top Poster Award Given to Both Groups at This Week’s Society for Investigative Dermatology Meeting

Los Angeles, CA, May 11, 2007 – Today DermTech, a biotechnology company developing skin sampling technologies for pre-clinical and clinical applications, and researchers at the Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, the Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center San Francisco announced a collaboration to explore the development of innovative products for skin-related conditions including signs of aging and atopic dermatitis. The groups met as a result of each being commended with the Nature Publishing Group’s top poster prize which will be presented today at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. The group using DermTech’s EGIR (Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval) technology, including Dr. Sherman Chang, DermTech, received the award for best clinical research poster, the group from UCSF led by Drs. Y. Uchida, P.M. Elias, and W.M. Holleran won the award for best basic research.

"Our research group has been interested in the role of the permeability barrier in skin disorders, including attenuating the effects of atopic dermatitis and aging for some time; DermTech's non-invasive, molecular basis for assessing skin status represents a key addition to enhance our research efforts in these areas,” said Dr. W.M. Holleran. “We are pleased to have met the authors of the study using DermTech’s technology and are looking forward to working with them on potentially high-value developments,” said Dr. Peter Elias.

Under the terms of the agreement, DermTech will provide its proprietary EGIR (RNA tape stripping and assay development) technology and the Department of Dermatology UCSF and the VA Medical Center, San Francisco will provide its recognized knowledge and expertise in the areas of skin disorders and aging. The objectives of the agreement include the identification of: novel therapeutic compounds to treat certain skin disorders; novel formulations that will arrest or ameliorate the dermatological effects of aging; novel biomarkers involved in dermatological disorders and aging; and gene expression patterns predictive of patient responsiveness to drug treatment.

“We are extremely honored to have the distinguished, basic research prize winners, Drs. Uchida, Elias, and Holleran working in partnership with DermTech's clinical research prize winner, Dr. Chang, to employ our patented epidermal genetic information retrieval technology to address questions such as arresting or reversing the aging process of skin,” said George Schwartz, CEO, DermTech. “We are hopeful that we can make significant and cost effective progress toward product development and are currently exploring partnerships to help commercialize opportunities stemming from this joint effort.”

About DermTech:
Headquartered in La Jolla, California, DermTech International (www.dermtech.com) specializes in the development and validation of molecular tests using specimens derived from the skin. The company’s proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology is being studied in the context of tracking treatment efficacy for a variety of dermatologic and other conditions, including the effects of drugs on skin at the molecular level in advance of observable clinical results, and aiding in the diagnosis of disease. DermTech is actively pursuing research using EGIR and its applications toward molecular diagnostics and theranostics in the areas of melanoma, prostate cancer and various skin disorders, such as psoriasis.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (858) 450-4222
gschwartz@dermtech.com

For DermTech
Jennifer Larson
Ph: (415) 409-2729
jlarson@labfive.com
05/09/07

Melanoma Study Using DermTech’s Non-Invasive EGIR Technology Wins Top Clinical Research Poster Prize at the Annual Society for Investigative Dermatology Meeting

- Award Sponsored by Nature Publishing Group -

Los Angeles, CA, May 9, 2007 – Today at the 68th Annual Society for Investigative Dermatology Meeting, a poster focusing on DermTech’s novel technology for determining the presence of melanoma via non-invasive tape stripping, received the Plenary Poster Prize for Clinical Research. The poster was selected for its excellence with regard to novel or innovative scientific research as determined and judged by the chairs of the SID Scientific Program Committee. The award and cash prize were sponsored by Nature Publishing Group.

“We are delighted that Dr. William Wachsman and his colleagues have been awarded the Nature Publishing Group top clinical research prize for their work using DermTech’s innovative EGIR technology,” said George Schwartz, CEO, DermTech. “We believe that our method for detecting melanoma simply and painlessly will make it many times more likely to be detected in the early stages when it has a much higher probability of being cured.”

The authors of the study suggested donating the financial award to three non-profit melanoma research organizations for their leading-edge work in the early detection of the disease. DermTech agreed, committed to match the amount and is pleased to be able to help support the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation in Palm Beach, Florida, spearheaded by founder Debbie Schwarzberg, the Charlie Guild Melanoma Foundation in Richmond, California, led by founder Valerie Guild, and the Shade Foundation of America, in Scottsdale, Arizona, founded by Shonda Schilling, the wife of Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.

The top commended abstract titled: “Differentiation of melanoma from dysplastic nevi in suspicious pigmented skin lesions by non-invasive tape stripping,” demonstrated that DermTech’s proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology successfully harvested RNA from the stratum corneum (‘skin’) and could identify melanoma based on gene expression profiles. EGIR is a non-invasive nucleic acid retrieval technology that makes use of a custom adhesive film to sample the upper layers of the epidermis. Sample processing results in the reproducible detection of specific biomarkers extracted from the harvested skin cells for use in gene expression analysis. Expression patterns can be used to monitor the effects of actives on the epidermis or to create "molecular profiles" of target diseases.

“This is ground-breaking technology that could mark a clear improvement in the way melanoma is detected and treated,” said Harold Rabinovitz, M.D., Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Miami School of Medicine. “Because it is painless, easy to use and offers real hope to people whose melanoma might otherwise go un-attended to, this method is ideally suited to become a routine test performed in the dermatologist’s office.”

William Wachsman, M.D., Ph.D., was the lead author on the study. Dr. Wachsman is Associate Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and head of the Microarray Shared Resource at the Moores UCSD Cancer
Center. Additional authors and researchers who contributed significantly to the study were: Tissa Hata, M.D., of University of California, San Diego Dermatology Department, Nicholas Schork, Ph.D., Director of Research, Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Sherman Chang, Ph.D., director of Molecular Biology, DermTech, Boris Bastian, M.D., Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco and Harold Rabinovitz, M.D., a dermatologist in Plantation, Florida.

About DermTech:
Headquartered in La Jolla, California, DermTech International (www.dermtech.com) specializes in the development and validation of molecular tests using specimens derived from the skin. The company’s proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology is being studied in the context of tracking treatment efficacy for a variety of dermatologic and other conditions, including the effects of drugs on skin at the molecular level in advance of observable clinical results, and aiding in the diagnosis of disease. DermTech International is actively pursuing research using EGIR and its applications toward molecular diagnostics and theranostics in the areas of melanoma, prostate cancer and various skin disorders, such as psoriasis.

DermTech International Licenses Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval Technology to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for Pediatric Dermatitis Research

La Jolla, CA – DermTech International, an emerging biotechnology company developing skin sampling technologies for pre-clinical and clinical applications, announces today it has entered into an agreement with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to use DermTech’s proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR^TM) technology to identify biomarkers associated with dermatitis.  EGIR is a non-invasive technique for recovering nucleic acids from the surface of the skin.  Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD, Director of the Institute for Personalized and Predictive Medicine and the Center for Translational Research in Asthma and Allergy at Cincinnati Children’s, is Principal Investigator for the project.

EGIR is a patented method for collecting a sample of surface skin cells with an adhesive film that allows the recovery and analysis of RNA for genetic profiling of the site in question.  Specific biomarkers are known to correlate with certain skin conditions or diseases, and EGIR has been shown to be able to detect differential expression of mRNAs corresponding to such markers in afflicted vs. healthy skin.  The aim of the proposed research is to explore EGIR as a tool to identify genetic markers and patterns of expression that can be useful in distinguishing among various forms of dermatitis in pediatric patients.  The outcome of the research could lead to the application of EGIR as a clinical diagnostic method for pediatricians.  “Noninvasive methods to better help us assess our patients are of great interest in pediatrics.  We are conducting research that we hope will be able to capitalize on this technology and improve the health of our patients,” stated Dr. Hershey.

Besides ease of use, the EGIR technique has the added advantage of being able to retest the same affected area with minimal or no discomfort, reducing the need for painful biopsies.  This is especially beneficial when working with young patients.  “DermTech feels privileged to be providing its technology to Cincinnati Children's and to Dr. Hershey's innovative research.  We hope that this can lead to more effective physician management of children,” stated George Schwartz, CEO of DermTech International.

Headquartered in La Jolla, California, DermTech International (www.dermtechintl.com) specializes in the development and validation of molecular tests using specimens derived from the skin.  The company’s proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology is being studied in the context of tracking treatment efficacy for a variety of dermatologic and other conditions, including the effects of drugs on skin at the molecular level in advance of observable clinical results, and aiding in the diagnosis of disease.  DermTech International is actively pursuing research using EGIR and its applications toward molecular diagnostics and theranostics in the areas of melanoma, prostate cancer and various skin disorders, such as psoriasis.

For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
07/20/05

Moores UCSD Cancer Center to Study Skin Sampling as Non-Invasive Test for Detecting Prostate Cancer

Researchers at the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center will conduct research for development of a skin test to detect prostate cancer and predict its progress, thanks to a $1.8 million grant from the University of California (UC) through its Industry-University Cooperative Research Program. These grants, called UC Discovery Grants, are designed to accelerate research with potential public benefits, and represent a three-way partnership between UC, the state of California and industry partners.

DermTech International, a San Diego-based biotechnology company developing skin sampling technologies for pre-clinical and clinical applications, is the industry partner on the grant to the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. The Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System will also play a role in this project.

The research will utilize DermTech’s proprietary technology known as Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)). It is a non-invasive technique for collecting a sample of surface skin cells with an adhesive film that allows the recovery and analysis of RNA for genetic profiling of the site in question. EGIR has been shown to detect specific changes in gene expression in the skin for dermatologic conditions like psoriasis and can discriminate between allergic and irritant skin reactions at the molecular level.

Principal investigator on the grant is William Wachsman, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSD. He is also a member of the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and a staff physician in hematology and oncology with the VA San Diego Healthcare System.

Recent research in Wachsman’s laboratory revealed that prostate cancer cells influence other types of non-cancerous cells within the prostate. This led to the idea that these cancer cells might influence other tissues outside of the prostate.

“Many types of cancer cells, including those from prostate, circulate in the bloodstream. In fact, prostate cancer cells produce many factors that can affect the properties of other organs and tissues, including the skin,” said Wachsman. “We are asking whether prostate cancer causes a change in the skin that is not noticeable by simple visual inspection but that can be detected at a molecular level by using this highly sensitive technology.”

The study will compare the gene expression profiles of skin from men with and without the disease to create a set of representative biomarkers that can be used as a tool to screen for prostate cancer.

It is further envisioned that EGIR will not only be a useful diagnostic tool but will also aid in determining prognoses by allowing researchers to identify a pattern of biomarkers that predict the clinical behavior of the prostate cancer.

Besides ease of use, the EGIR technique has the added advantage of allowing the patient to be retested easily and painlessly, leading to a more accurate assessment of the patient’s condition and reducing the need for biopsies and the discomfort of repetitive needle sticks for blood tests. In addition, EGIR has the potential to overcome the limitations of current tests, such as PSA measurement and digital rectal examination of the prostate gland, which lack specificity and sensitivity.

“By enabling us to screen thousands of genes in each patient, EGIR is the only non-invasive method available that we can use to determine whether a biomarker ‘signature’ for prostate cancer exists in skin,” said Wachsman. “DermTech’s technology is a perfect fit as we look for better ways to detect cancer and manage its treatment. Our hope is that it will lead to development of a routine skin test for this disease.”

Study participants will be drawn from the patient populations at UCSD Medical Center and the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Co-investigators are VA urologist Tracy Downs, UCSD urologist Carol Salem, and UCSD statistician Charles Berry.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in San Diego, California, DermTech International specializes in the development and validation of molecular biology techniques for the analysis of various skin disorders. The company’s proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology is currently being studied in the context of tracking treatment efficacy for a variety of dermatologic conditions, including the effects of drugs on skin at the molecular level in advance of observable clinical results, and aiding in the diagnosis of disease. The company, in which approximately $7 million of capital has been invested thus far, is actively seeking individual investors and partners for further development and commercialization of EGIR and its applications toward drug discovery and clinical research. Interested parties are encouraged to contact George Schwartz, CEO, at (619) 417-3285 or visit the company’s website at www.dermtechintl.com.

Founded in 1979, the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center is one of just 39 centers in the United States to hold a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Part of the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, it ranks among the top centers in the nation conducting basic and clinical cancer research, providing advanced patient care and serving the community through outreach and education programs.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
08/10/04

DermTech International Announces Broad Patent Coverage of Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)) Technology

San Diego, CA - DermTech International, an early-stage biotechnology company developing skin sampling technologies for pre-clinical and clinical applications, announces today allowance by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of the patent application entitled "Methods for Obtaining and Analyzing Skin Samples for the Detection of Nucleic Acids". The patent specifically covers the method comprising the use of adhesive tape to recover ribonucleic acid from the surface of the skin. Vera Morhenn, MD, and Lawrence A. Rheins, PhD, are named as inventors on the patent.

The patent covers the application of tape to the skin and the detection of RNA allowing the relative quantitation of RNA molecules present. The described use applies not only to the stratum corneum, the layers of dead cells making up the outermost layer of the skin, but also to any other cells that are recovered in the process of harvesting a skin sample by this method. The patent specifically covers cytokine and interleukin mRNA but extends to any ribonucleic acids expressing an inflammatory mediator. Broad coverage was also extended to applications in dermatologic science for the recovery of RNA from diseased or damaged skin. The patent also comprises the method of contacting the skin with an agent that causes dermatitis and the subsequent use of adhesive tape to recover RNA from the test site, thus addressing applications for dermatology product testing.

The company is exploring a number of commercial applications pertaining to the techniques described in the patent through its Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)) program under the direction of Nicholas Benson, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development. Information regarding the molecular nature of skin reactions is valuable for pharmaceutical developers wishing to compare and optimize formulas in early-stage product development. In clinical trials, the technology has also been demonstrated as a valid technique for measuring at the molecular level the efficacy of drug treatment in patients with skin disease. "Securing broad patent coverage provides the company with the opportunity to continue focusing near-term on research applications and the many potential commercial uses of this breakthrough technology without concern regarding ownership of the intellectual property," said Lawrence Rheins, Founder of DermTech International.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, DermTech International (www.dermtechintl.com) specializes in developing and validating molecular biology techniques for the analysis of various skin disorders. The company's proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology is currently being studied in the context of tracking treatment efficacy for a variety of dermatologic conditions, including the effects of drugs on skin at the molecular level in advance of observable clinical results. The company is actively seeking partners and investors to further develop EGIR technology for diverse commercial applications.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
07/13/04

Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)) Technology Used to Identify Novel Genes Associated with Irritant Contact Dermatitis

San Diego, CA - DermTech International announces today positive results of research using the company's proprietary skin sampling technology, Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)), in defining the molecular nature of irritant reactions on the surface of the skin. The work appears in the July issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and is entitled, "Use of RT-PCR and DNA Microarrays to Characterize RNA Recovered by Non-Invasive Tape Harvesting of Normal and Inflamed Skin" (123:159-167, 2004). Rita Wong, Vynga Tran, Vera Morhenn, She-pin Hung, Bogi Andersen, Elaine Ito, G. Wesley Hatfield and Nicholas R. Benson are authors on the paper.

Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval uses a proprietary adhesive film to harvest surface skin cells from which genetic material can be extracted and analyzed. The data presented in the paper demonstrate several key elements about the technology. Most importantly, the recovery and molecular analysis of cells adhering to four small adhesive tapes applied to a single site allowed the pathophysiological state of the skin to be characterized after being irritated with sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), a common ingredient in soap and skin care products. The same procedure was carried out on normal skin as a comparison. The results showed the induction of genes involved in the inflammatory response in the irritated skin and further demonstrate that EGIR can convey relevant information on the physiology of irritated and non-irritated skin via a rapid non-invasive technique, resulting in no discomfort to the subject.

The potential power of the technique was further elucidated by coupling EGIR with DNA array technology. When the extracted mRNA was amplified and applied to an array encompassing almost the entire human genome, 1700 genes were discovered to be regulated by SLS treatment. "Of the 100 genes showing the most significant differential expression, approximately thirty represented new genes not previously known to be involved in the inflammatory response," stated Nick Benson, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at DermTech International and lead investigator on the project. The researchers are now applying the EGIR technique in studies of other significant dermatologic conditions, such as psoriasis, wherein EGIR may lead to earlier diagnoses and the tracking of treatment efficacy in early therapy. "The fact that we could obtain this information without a clinically invasive biopsy procedure, including identification of novel genes associated with an inflammatory skin reaction, strongly suggests that this technology may be of great potential value in diagnostic and prognostic evaluations of a multitude of skin diseases at the molecular level," stated Lawrence Rheins, PhD, Founder and co-inventor of the EGIR technology. In a commentary in the same issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Dr. Brian Nickoloff, Professor and Vice Chairman of Research in the Department of Pathology at Loyola University Medical Center, called EGIR an "amazing technological advancement."

Headquartered in San Diego, California, DermTech International (www.dermtechintl.com) specializes in developing and validating molecular biology techniques for the analysis of various skin disorders. The company's proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR) technology is currently being studied in the context of tracking treatment efficacy for a variety of dermatologic conditions, including the effects of drugs on skin at the molecular level in advance of observable clinical results. The company is actively seeking partners and investors to further develop EGIR technology for diverse commercial applications.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
06/28/04

DermTech International To Focus on Development of Proprietary Skin Sampling Technology

San Diego, CA – DermTech International, a leading San Diego-based pre-clinical and clinical CRO focused exclusively on dermatologics, announced last week it has agreed to sell its clinical research operations to PRACS Institute, Ltd., North America’s largest privately held Phase I-related contract research organization, in order to focus efforts on the development of its proprietary skin sampling technology, Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIRTM). EGIR has been shown to convey biologically relevant information on the physiology of normal and diseased skin using a non-invasive technique to harvest cells from the skin surface.

DermTech International’s Board of Directors has been restructured to reflect the change in the company’s operations and focus. Charles Mathews will resign as Chairman, with Gail Naughton, PhD, MBA, taking over the post effective immediately. Dr. Naughton, currently Dean of the College of Business Administration at San Diego State University, has led a distinguished career in the life sciences and, with over 75 patents, is a pioneer in the field of tissue engineering. Nicholas Benson, PhD, under whose direction work on EGIR has been taking place, will continue to lead the company’s research and development efforts in that area.

Founded in 1996, DermTech International has grown to become a leading provider of pre-clinical and clinical contract services for the evaluation of dermatologics. Through its involvement in clinical trials associated with the treatment of various skin diseases and the limitations of traditional methods for measuring treatment efficacy, such as painful biopsies, the company saw the need for a technique that is rapid, easy to perform and practical for any part of the body, including sensitive areas such as the face. In the case of psoriasis, the ability to correlate treatment with decreases in the expression of biomarkers associated with the disease was recently shown in a study carried out in collaboration with Drs. Gerald Krueger and Clive Liu of the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology. "Although clinical assessments of skin condition and biopsies are routinely used to help diagnose and determine treatment for skin disease, there are occasions where additional precision at the molecular level is needed to better understand the state of the disease and the mechanism of action of a new topical drug. Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval provides an innocuous means of recovering genetic information from the skin, a potentially powerful technology in early drug development", stated Lawrence Rheins, PhD, founder of DermTech International and co-inventor of the technology. Additionally, the use of EGIR to characterize skin reactions to topical formulations is covered under a U.S. patent and patents pending.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, DermTech International (www.dermtechintl.com) specializes in developing and validating molecular biology techniques for the analysis of various skin disorders. The value of Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval has been shown in the context of distinguishing irritant from allergic reactions in the skin and in the tracking of treatment efficacy in clinical trials. The company is actively seeking partners and investors to further develop EGIR technology for commercial applications.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
06/23/04

PRACS Institute, Ltd., Agrees to Acquire Clinical Research Operations of DermTech International

Fargo, ND - PRACS Institute, Ltd., North America's largest privately held contract research organization focusing on Phase I-related services, announces today that it has acquired the clinical research operations of DermTech International, a leading San Diego-based pre-clinical and clinical CRO focused exclusively on dermatologics. While the terms of the deal have not been disclosed, the acquisition does not include DermTech International's DermGene(TM) division and its development of proprietary Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)) technology.

Founded in 1996, DermTech International has served the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and skin care industries with a broad range of pre-clinical and clinical contract services for the evaluation of topicals, transdermal delivery systems, dermal fillers and pharmaceuticals for the treatment of skin diseases. In October of 2003, PRACS Institute and DermTech International formed a partnership to better serve the global dermatology testing market. Since then the strength of the alliance has grown, culminating in the sale of DermTech International's core pre-clinical and clinical contract services business to PRACS Institute. Lawrence Rheins, PhD, DermTech International's founder and Executive Vice President, said, "The resources, facilities, subject base and geographic locations of the expanded organization significantly enhance our ability to remain a leader in dermatology testing services." The dermatology business unit will remain in San Diego along with its clinical facilities there. "This is an acquisition of scientific expertise and clinical dermatology research experience which will greatly enhance our research services for the pharmaceutical industry," stated Dr. James Carlson, founder and President of PRACS Institute, Ltd.

Michael George, who has served as interim CEO of DermTech International since January of this year, will be leaving the post, as the San Diego unit will be managed by PRACS Institute from its North Dakota headquarters. "The strategic fit of these two organizations has been obvious from the very beginning of the relationship. PRACS' reputation as a high quality provider of large-scale clinical trials and DermTech's well-recognized expertise in dermatology provide a synergy that will be of significant benefit to current and future clients. In this case, the whole will be truly greater than the sum of the parts," stated George.

Based in Fargo, North Dakota, PRACS Institute, Ltd. (www.pracs.com), has served the innovator and generic pharmaceutical industries for over 20 years with full-service on-site clinical and bioanalytical capabilities for Phase I-IV studies. PRACS Institute offers the highest quality contract research and related services with state-of-the-art clinical and bioanalytical facilities comprising 13 study units and 440 beds, a large, highly-compliant healthy subject population, experienced staff, Sciex and Micromass mass spectrometry, bioanalytical sample analysis and an excellent FDA audit record.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
04/27/04

Clinical Psoriasis Data Demonstrates Value of Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)) Technology

San Diego, CA – DermTech International announces today that results from a recent clinical trial involving psoriasis patients support the value of EGIR technology in correlating treatment with a decrease in predictive biomarkers associated with diseased skin.  The data further demonstrate that EGIR can convey biologically relevant information on the physiology of normal and diseased skin via a non-invasive skin sampling technique.  

The results of the recent study, carried out in collaboration with Gerald Krueger, MD, and Clive Liu, MD, of the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology, will be presented this week at the Society for Investigative Dermatology’s 65th Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.  The poster, entitled “Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval is a Non-Invasive Method of Evaluating Message (mRNA) Profiles of Lesional Versus Non-Lesional Skin of Psoriatic Subjects Before and After Treatment with Etanercept,” describes the preliminary results of a pilot clinical trial involving psoriasis patients treated with Enbrel® (etanercept).  Epidermal samples taken from both unaffected skin and a psoriatic plaque before and during treatment with Enbrel and analyzed using EGIR showed a statistically significant correlation (p<0.05) between the reduction of psoriatic disease and a decrease in TNFa, IFNg and IL-12B mRNA levels.  The EGIR technique, a proprietary technology owned by DermTech International, has been shown to allow measurement of the expression of cytokines linked to psoriasis through quantitative analysis of mRNA extracted from surface skin cells.  Dr. Krueger, Professor and holder of the Cumming Presidential Chair in dermatology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, stated,  “This is the first demonstration of a non-invasive approach to elucidate improvement in disease by following changes in biomarkers that are linked to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.  I predict, based on these findings, that this non-invasive approach can be used to elucidate the mechanism of action of pharmacological treatments used to treat a skin disease.”

Further utility of EGIR technology will be presented at the SID Annual Meeting by Nicholas Benson, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at DermTech International.  The poster, entitled “A Comparison of Keratin Gene Expression Between Inflamed and Control Skin Samples Obtained by Tape Harvesting,” describes the use of EGIR to characterize inflammation of the skin and shows that statistically significant changes (p<0.0001) in keratin mRNA levels were seen between normal and inflamed skin.  “This study demonstrates that EGIR technology provides rapid information that lends to the discovery of the mechanisms of action of drug entities in both healthy and inflamed skin,” said Dr. Benson.  In addition, DermTech is pleased to announce the issuance of U.S. Patent #6,720,145 covering the use of EGIR to differentiate allergic contact dermatitis from irritant contact dermatitis by analysis of the expression of IL-4 and IL-8 mRNA in inflamed skin.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, DermTech International (www.dermtechintl.com) comprises five operating divisions providing a complete range of services for the development of skin-related products, including pre-clinical dermatopharmacokinetics and ‘first-in-man’ safety studies, clinical efficacy testing, multi-center clinical trials management and regulatory consulting services.  DermTech focuses exclusively on the evaluation and testing of dermatologic topicals, transdermal delivery systems, dermal devices and pharmaceuticals for the treatment of skin diseases.  The company’s DermGene(TM) division specializes in developing and validating molecular biology techniques for the analysis of various skin disorders and is actively seeking partners to further develop EGIR technology for commercial applications.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
02/24/04

DermTech International Welcomes Gail Naughton, PhD, MBA, to Board of Directors

San Diego, CA - DermTech International, a leading dermatology CRO for pre-clinical and clinical studies, announces today the appointment of Gail K. Naughton, PhD, MBA, to the company's Board of Directors. Dr. Naughton brings to the Board a distinguished career in the life sciences, including being named National Inventor of the Year in 2000 by the Intellectual Property Owners Association.

Dr. Naughton holds over 75 patents and co-founded the San Diego-based biotechnology company Advanced Tissue Sciences. "Having someone like Gail Naughton, a world-renowned pioneer in tissue engineering of the skin, on our Board significantly adds to DermTech's core leadership vision as a science-driven contract research organization focused on dermatology," said Lawrence Rheins, PhD, Founder and Executive Vice President. Dr. Naughton is currently Dean of the College of Business Administration at San Diego State University. She received her PhD from New York University Medical Center and her MBA from UCLA.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, DermTech International (www.dermtechintl.com) comprises five operating divisions providing complete "concept to commerce" services for the development of topical products, including pre-clinical dermatopharmacokinetic absorption and rate-of-active-release assays, 'first-in-man' safety studies, clinical efficacy testing, multi-center clinical trials management and regulatory consulting services. DermTech focuses exclusively on the evaluation of dermatologic topicals, devices, implants, transdermal delivery systems and pharmaceuticals for the treatment of skin diseases. In addition, the company's DermGene(TM) division specializes in developing and validating molecular biology techniques for the analysis of various skin disorders.

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For more information, please contact:
George B. Schwartz, CEO
Ph: (619) 417-3285
gschwartz@dermtech.com
For Immediate Release
12/04/03

DermTech International Announces Allowance of Patent Covering Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIR(TM)) Technology

San Diego, CA - DermTech International, a leading dermatology CRO for pre-clinical and clinical studies, announces today allowance by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of the patent entitled "Method for the Detection of Biological Factors in Epidermis" (09/967,658). The patent specifically covers the use of changes in IL-4 and IL-8 mRNA expression to classify a skin reaction as irritation-based or allergic in nature. It also includes the use of tape-harvesting as a means of recovering RNA from the surface of the skin for such analysis. Lawrence A. Rheins, PhD, and Vera Morhenn, MD, are named as inventors on the patent.

DermTech has recently launched a program to commercialize the technique described in the patent for the characterization of skin reactions to topical formulations. This technology, known as Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval (EGIRTM), uses a proprietary adhesive film to harvest surface skin cells from which genetic material is extracted and analyzed. The differential expression of mRNAs can be used as an indicator of the cause of a skin reaction and help determine if the reaction is occurring as an irritation response to chemicals making up the given formulation or whether it is due to an immune response. Such information is valuable for DermTech's clients in comparing and optimizing formulas in early-stage product development. "For close to fifty years the pharmaceutical and consumer product industries have depended on subjective, non-quantifiable visual cues in an attempt to distinguish 'look-alike' skin irritant reactions from more serio