2022 AZBio Fast Lane Award: Castle Biosciences
Channel: AZ Bio
Date: 03/10/2022

Making People a Key Priority

Castle Biosciences is transforming patient management with actionable information addressing key questions in disease states with high unmet clinical needs. 

“People are a key priority at Castle, both in terms of doing what is best for physicians and patients and in cultivating a culture of innovation, development and growth for its employees,” stated Derek Maetzold, President & CEO of Castle Biosciences.

With a goal of improving care for patients affected by rare cancers, Castle was founded by Maetzold with Kristen Oelschlager, Castle’s Chief Operating Officer, and Toby Juvenal, Castle’s Chief Commercial Officer, in 2008. Castle’s scope has expanded beyond rare cancers since then, but the foundational pillars have remained the same: the company’s steadfast focus on doing what is best for physicians and patients, the value placed on Castle team members (the Castle family) and the company’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation.

Castle’s primary laboratory is in Phoenix, and the company markets six proprietary tests designed to answer clinical questions and address treatment plan challenges facing physicians in skin cancers, uveal melanoma, Barrett’s esophagus, and mental health conditions. 
The past year and a half have been a significant time of growth and achievement for Castle Biosciences, across nearly all aspects of its business. 

In the last 18 months, Castle more than doubled its workforce, growing from an overall workforce of 201 as of December 31, 2020, to more than 480 employees strong as of June 30, 2022. This includes substantial workforce growth in its laboratory in Phoenix, which has approximately 35,500 square feet of laboratory and office space in the city.

Castle prides itself on strong R&D and clinical research programs. In 2021, Castle published a remarkable 15 peer-reviewed publications and shared data in 54 posters and oral presentations at numerous scientific conferences; that trend continued in the first half of 2022, with 6 manuscripts accepted for publication and 30 posters and oral presentations. Castle’s clinical research team plays a major part in these ongoing efforts and, as of the end of Q2 2022, is managing 15 clinical studies across the Company’s marketed tests, involving approximately 10,080 patients/subjects. This ongoing work is critical to Castle’s success in helping to demonstrate the potential value of the Company’s tests in guiding patient care and transforming disease management.

As part of the Company’s strategic growth plan, Castle recently acquired two companies, Cernostics, Inc. and AltheaDx, Inc., which has provided the Company new opportunities to improve patient care in the gastroenterology and mental health spaces, respectively. 

Castle’s dedication to improving health for patients includes support and collaboration with numerous patient advocacy organizations, including but not limited to the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), The Sun Bus, American Skin Association, AIM at Melanoma, IMPACT Melanoma, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), A Cure In Sight, Outrun the Sun, Melanoma Action Coalition, Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) War on Melanoma™ campaign, Research to Prevent Blindness, Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN) and Mental Health America (MHA).

“Castle Biosciences is being honored with a 2022 AZBio Fast Lane Award for its substantial growth and success over the past 18 months,” stated Joann Koerber-Walker, President & CEO of AZBio. “Castle’s ongoing efforts are improving patient care and transforming disease management through innovative tests for skin cancers, uveal melanoma, Barrett’s esophagus and mental health conditions.”

SOURCE: AZBio