Orlucent^®
A New Standard for Mole Evaluation

Catherine Shachaf, Co-founder and Co-CEO

Is the mole benign or quietly signaling melanoma?

Dermatologists answer that question every day. They read every detail on the surface of a mole; its color, symmetry, borders and evolution. But most often, they are working within a gray zone where visual cues cannot fully reveal the underlying biology. Until now, confirmation has relied solely on biopsies. Across the U.S., millions of mole biopsies are performed each year, with many confirming no malignancy.

Orlucent was founded to close this diagnostic gap. It developed the Orlucent^® Skin Fluorescent Imaging (SFI) System, the first handheld, fluorescent, molecular imaging system that non-invasively evaluates the early tissue remodeling that signals the likely transition to melanoma. It transforms evaluation from subjective guesswork into objective insight, enabling clinicians to understand risk before prescribing a biopsy.

“A biopsy shouldn’t be the first step forced by a lack of information. It should be the informed step guided by the right information,” says Dr. Catherine Shachaf, co-founder and co-CEO.

For Dr. Shachaf, this mission began with a reality she witnessed repeatedly. A loved one has a phenotype strongly associated with higher melanoma risk. Each time a mole looked even slightly different to the doctor, the pattern repeated—another biopsy, another scar, another stretch of waiting. The physicians were cautious and completely justified each time they proceeded with a biopsy. Most results came back benign. But the relief never offset the dread that preceded it, because there was no way for physicians to understand what was happening inside the mole without removing it.

That realization became Orlucent’s North Star, bringing melanoma-related biology into the exam room instead of the pathology lab.
Clarity in Ambiguous Mole Decisions

The Orlucent System brings molecular insight into the dermatology exam without changing how dermatologists practice. It uses in vivo mSFI, a molecular imaging method that can be applied in a routine clinical visit. The system evaluates melanoma-related biological activity in a mole using a topically applied fluorescent peptide that binds to αvβ3 integrin. If integrin is present, the peptide binds, and a handheld device detects the fluorescent signal. Software converts that signal into a visual map and a numeric score, giving physicians objective biological information while the skin remains intact.

The Orlucent System addresses the gray zone of skin cancer assessment by providing a more precise method for determining when intervention is necessary and when monitoring is appropriate.

“Every biopsy rules something out, but it doesn’t erase the fear that came before it. What physicians need is clarity early, not closure afterward,” says Anne Callahan, clinician relations.

Molecular Clarity at the Point of Care

Orlucent’s first human study generated results that demonstrate clinical potential. The Orlucent System detected melanoma in all confirmed cases while achieving high specificity for benign and low-risk lesions. The trial included common nevi, dysplastic nevi and biopsy-confirmed melanoma, allowing the system to be evaluated across several categories of real-world diagnostics.

The technology quantified varying levels of biological activity in dysplastic nevi, determining that some dysplastic nevi exhibit low activity consistent with benign behavior while others display higher activity associated with elevated risk, suggesting a possible role in identifying moles that may progress. The dataset continues to inform ongoing clinical development and regulatory planning. The findings contributed to the FDA’s Breakthrough Device Designation.

It is also shaping a practical adoption model through medical education programs, clinical workflow studies and collaboration with dermatology leaders. An advisory board of key opinion leaders continues to guide these plans, ensuring the system integrates naturally into routine care rather than requiring practices to change their workflow.

The Orlucent technology has implications for every part of the care experience. Patients benefit from the possibility of fewer benign biopsies and less uncertainty between visits, without compromising vigilance against melanoma. Health systems and payers are set to see value through improved resource use, with biopsies and surgical interventions aligning more closely with biological risk rather than a precautionary threshold.

The Next Frontier in Early Cancer Detection

While the initial focus is dermatology, the scientific concept extends beyond skin. The system detects biological activity related to stromal remodeling, a process present in several types of solid tumors. If this principle proves effective in other tissues, it could transform early cancer detection.

For now, Orlucent remains focused on bringing molecular insight into the day-to-day practice of dermatology.

Progress depends on raising the quality of information available at the moment of decision. With Orlucent, biological insight enters the exam room in a way that elevates clinical skill rather than redirecting it.

As dermatology moves toward a future where certainty replaces caution-driven intervention, Orlucent stands positioned to shape how that future arrives. Its recognition as the Top Handheld Fluorescent Molecular Imaging System 2026 underscores that momentum and reflects the promise clinicians see in its category-defining technology that is poised to transform dermatologic care.