LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 8, 2020-- DermTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMTK) (“DermTech”), a leader in precision dermatology enabled by a non-invasive skin genomics platform, announced today the appointment of Michael D. Howell, Ph.D., to the role of Chief Scientific Officer. Mr. Howell brings over twenty years of academic and pharmaceutical industry experience to DermTech and will coordinate research, new product development, and clinical validation efforts.

“I am extraordinarily pleased that Michael Howell is joining our team,” said John Dobak, M.D., CEO of DermTech. “Mr. Howell has been a DermTech scientific advisor for several years and his depth of knowledge of skin diseases, genomics, and applications for our adhesive test sampling platform will provide a tremendous boost to our development efforts and collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Howell not only incorporated adhesive skin sampling into his doctoral work, but has also used it extensively in his industry career developing new products for inflammatory disease of the skin.”

Prior to joining DermTech, Mr. Howell was the translational research lead at Incyte Corporation (“Incyte”) for Inflammation and Autoimmunity, where he drove the strategic expansion of Incyte’s pipeline in dermatology and other immunological disorders. Prior to working at Incyte, Mr. Howell held various other roles within the pharmaceutical industry at Boehringer Ingelheim, Immune Tolerance Network, and MedImmune/AstraZeneca. Before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Howell served as a faculty member in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at National Jewish Health, where he was a Co-Investigator for the Atopic Dermatitis Vaccinia/Research Network. Mr. Howell earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from Messiah College and his doctorate in immunology from the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Throughout his career, Mr. Howell has combined clinical and basic scientific research efforts to identify more precise and personalized treatments for inflammatory diseases. He has a proven track record in research and development, highlighted by the identification of new therapeutic targets and the advancement of greater than 10 novel clinical therapies. Additionally, his research has been discussed at national and international meetings, published in peer-reviewed journals, and referenced in patents outlining therapeutic interventions and biomarker strategies for inflammatory diseases.

“I am honored to join the growing team at DermTech in its mission to use non-invasive technology to drive precision dermatology and improve patient care. I look forward to working with this highly skilled team as we work toward developing innovative products and improve the way patients are treated,” said Mr. Howell.

About DermTech:

DermTech is the leading genomics company in dermatology and is creating a new category of medicine, precision dermatology, enabled by our non-invasive skin genomics platform. DermTech’s mission is to transform the practice of dermatology through more accurate diagnosis and treatment, and the elimination of unnecessary surgery, leading to improved patient care and lower costs. DermTech provides genomic analysis of skin samples collected non-invasively using an adhesive patch rather than a scalpel. DermTech markets and develops products that facilitate the early detection of skin cancers, and is developing products that assess inflammatory diseases and customize drug treatments. For additional information on DermTech, please visit DermTech’s investor relations site at: www.DermTech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The expectations, estimates, and projections of DermTech may differ from its actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expectations with respect to: the performance, patient benefits, cost-effectiveness and commercialization of DermTech’s products and the market opportunity therefor. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of DermTech and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against DermTech; (2) DermTech’s ability to obtain additional funding to develop and market its products; (3) the existence of favorable or unfavorable clinical guidelines for DermTech’s tests; (4) the reimbursement of DermTech’s tests by Medicare and private payors; (5) the ability of patients or healthcare providers to obtain coverage of or sufficient reimbursement for DermTech’s products; (6) DermTech’s ability to grow, manage growth and retain its key employees; (7) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (8) the market adoption and demand for DermTech’s products and services together with the possibility that DermTech may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (9) other risks and uncertainties included in (x) the “Risk Factors” section of the most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q filed by DermTech with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and (y) other documents filed or to be filed by DermTech with the SEC. DermTech cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. You should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. DermTech does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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Sarah Dion
VP Marketing
sdion@dermtech.com
(858) 450-4222

Source: DermTech, Inc.