IDgenetix® Shown to Significantly Improve Medication Response and Remission Rates in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Castle Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTL), a company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care, today announced real-world study data demonstrating that use of IDgenetix® to guide medication management can significantly improve medication response and remission rates in patients diagnosed with moderate to severe depression, compared to current standard-of-care treatment. The data was shared via a poster presentation at the May 2023 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting held in San Francisco.

“Unlike other pharmacogenomic tests, which only consider a patient’s drug-gene interactions, IDgenetix takes into account a patient’s drug-drug interactions and lifestyle factors, and can provide a more comprehensive overview of which medications will be effective therapies for the patient,” said Kelly Wosnik, DNP, NP-C, owner and nurse practitioner at Bristol Health, and co-author of the study. “As supported by the data in this study, using IDgenetix to guide personalized medication selection can help improve the care of patients suffering from moderate to severe depression by offering hope of improved medication response and remission.”

In the study, patients whose medication management was guided by IDgenetix achieved a 35% increase in medication response and a 64% increase in remission rate at eight weeks compared to patients whose medication was not guided by the test. These results demonstrate the potential value of IDgenetix in guiding improved medication management compared to the standard-of-care, trial-and-error approach, and are consistent with the previously published randomized control trial (RCT) using IDgenetix.¹

The study abstract can be accessed via APA’s website here.

IDgenetix is Castle’s next-generation pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that incorporates the results of a 15-gene variant panel with drug-drug interaction data and lifestyle factors to provide medication recommendations for patients with mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Using the IDgenetix test report, clinicians may be able to more precisely tailor treatments to individual patients, rather than relying on trial and error, potentially reducing the chances of side effects or ineffective treatments. In an RCT, patients diagnosed with severe depression whose medication management was guided by the IDgenetix test showed a greater than two and a half times improvement in remission rates at eight and 12 weeks compared to those who were not guided by IDgenetix.¹

About IDgenetix®
IDgenetix® is a pharmacogenomic (PGx) product test for depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions designed to analyze a patient’s genetic make-up to guide timely and evidence-based decisions on the optimal drug for each patient. IDgenetix is designed to provide important genetic information to clinicians to help guide personalized treatment plans for their patients, with the potential to help patients achieve a faster therapeutic response and improve their chances of remission by identifying appropriate medications more efficiently than the standard-of-care, trial-and-error approach. IDgenetix provides drug-drug and drug-gene interactions and is supported by a published, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trial that demonstrated clinical utility over the standard of care when physicians used IDgenetix prior to prescribing a medication. More information about Castle’s tests can be found at www.CastleTestInfo.com.

About Castle Biosciences
Castle Biosciences (Nasdaq: CSTL) is a leading diagnostics company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care. The Company aims to transform disease management by keeping people first: patients, clinicians, employees and investors.

Castle’s current portfolio consists of tests for skin cancers, uveal melanoma, Barrett’s esophagus and mental health conditions. Additionally, the Company has active research and development programs for tests in other diseases with high clinical need, including its test in development to predict systemic therapy response in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and related conditions. To learn more, please visit www.CastleBiosciences.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

DecisionDx-Melanoma, DecisionDx-CMSeq, DecisionDx-SCC, MyPath Melanoma, DecisionDx-UM, DecisionDx-PRAME, DecisionDx-UMSeq, TissueCypher and IDgenetix are trademarks of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: the potential of IDgenetix to (i) significantly improve medication response and remission rates in patients diagnosed with moderate to severe depression compared to current standard of care treatment; (ii) provide a more comprehensive overview of which medications will be effective therapies for the patient; (iii) help improve the care of patients suffering from moderate to severe depression by offering hope of improved medication response and remission rate; (iv) add value by guiding improved medication management compared to the standard-of-care, trial-and-error approach; and (v) enable clinicians to more precisely tailor treatments to individual patients, rather than relying on trial and error, potentially reducing the chances of side effects or ineffective treatments. The words “can,” “may,” “potential,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: subsequent study or trial results and findings may contradict earlier study or trial results and findings or may not support the results shown in this study, including with respect to the discussion of IDgenetix in this press release; actual application of our tests may not provide the aforementioned benefits to patients; and the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and in our other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

1. Bradley P, Shiekh M, Mehra V, et al. Improved efficacy with targeted pharmacogenetic-guided treatment of patients with depression and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial demonstrating clinical utility. J Psychiatr Res. 2018 Jan;96:100-107. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.09.024. Epub 2017 Sep 23. PMID: 28992526.

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