Jun 10 2013
Verisante Technology, Inc. (the "Company" or "Verisante"), a leader in cancer detection technology, announced today it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Frontière Médicale EUROPE LLC. ("Frontmed") to distribute Verisante Aura™ in the UK and Ireland.
"Frontmed is a very successful distributor of medical devices in the UK," said Thomas Braun, President & CEO of Verisante. "Frontmed has extensive knowledge of the market for dermatological and skin care devices, and a breadth of experience in facilitating the market penetration of new technologies. Frontmed will distribute Aura™ and also support technical training and servicing throughout the UK and Ireland."
Frontmed is based in London and Paris and specialises in the distribution of new technologies through rapid market access via strategic market entry. Frontmed currently distributes aesthetic lasers for treatment of a variety of skin conditions.
"Skin cancer rates continue to rise in the UK and Ireland year over year," said Daniel Krelle, Co-Founder of Frontmed. "Aura's™ impressive clinical study results show it can quickly and accurately assist in diagnosing all the major forms of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Aura should be welcomed by doctors and clinics across the UK and Ireland as an additional tool to assist in the biopsy decision."
The European medical device market is the second largest in the world, worth over $78 billion and representing 30 per cent of the world market - second only to the United States. The UK and Ireland together have a population of over 70 million people, and over 650 dermatologists serving the UK & Ireland countries in this region.
A study conducted by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Eastern Cancer Registration Centre in Cambridge found that skin cancer could be twice as prevalent as previous government estimates, with incidences of Basal Cell Carcinoma (the most common form of skin cancer) having increased by 80% over the last decade. Cancer Research UK has also reported that during the last thirty year period, incidence rates of malignant melanoma in Great Britain have increased more rapidly than any of the current ten most common cancers in both males and females.
According to the Irish Cancer Society, because of their skin type, two-thirds of Irish people are at a high risk of developing skin cancer while Ireland ranks among the highest skin cancer rates in Europe. The rate of skin cancer in Ireland has almost doubled over the past 10 years.
Verisante Aura™ is indicated for use for the evaluation of skin lesions that may be clinically suspicious for melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and/or basal cell carcinoma when a medical professional chooses to obtain additional information to rule out one of the above conditions before making a final decision to biopsy. Aura™ is a non-invasive optical system that uses Raman spectroscopy to biochemically analyze the skin, providing immediate results. The device will help to automate the current process of diagnosis, allowing rapid scanning of the 20 to 40 skin lesions on at-risk individuals, improving patient outcomes and comfort.