Castle Biosciences Launches AdvanceAD-Tx™ to Help Guide Systemic Treatment Decision Making in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Core Insights - Castle Biosciences has launched AdvanceAD-Tx™, a gene expression profile test aimed at guiding treatment decisions for patients aged 12 and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) [1][10] - The test identifies patients with a Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) responder profile, indicating a higher likelihood of achieving significant improvement in their condition when treated with JAK inhibitors compared to Th2-targeted therapies [2][11] Company Overview - Castle Biosciences is focused on developing innovative diagnostic tests that enhance patient care, particularly in dermatologic and gastroenterological diseases [7] - The company aims to leverage its existing technology to address unmet needs in the field of atopic dermatitis, with a total addressable market estimated at $33 billion [3][4] Product Details - AdvanceAD-Tx is a non-invasive test that evaluates 487 genes to classify patients into JAKi responder or Th2 molecular profiles, providing insights to personalize treatment [10][11] - In clinical validation, 30.4% of tested samples showed a JAKi responder profile, with those patients achieving a 90% improvement in disease severity (EASI-90) at a significantly higher rate compared to those on Th2-targeted therapy (45.5% vs 8.3%) [4][11] Clinical Integration and Launch Strategy - The test is designed for easy integration into existing laboratory workflows, facilitating adoption by dermatologists familiar with Castle's other tests [5] - AdvanceAD-Tx will be launched in a phased manner starting November 2025, with broader availability expected throughout 2026 [5] Market Potential - The U.S. market for atopic dermatitis treatments is substantial, with approximately 13.2 million patients aged 12 and older suffering from moderate-to-severe AD [4] - The introduction of AdvanceAD-Tx is anticipated to act as a growth catalyst for Castle Biosciences alongside its established tests in dermatology and gastrointestinal areas [3]