UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

_____________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22,  2015


MELA SCIENCES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
000-51481
13-3986004
(State or Other
(Commission File
(I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of
Number)
Identification No.)
Incorporation)
 
 
 
 
 
100 Lakeside Drive, Suite 100, Horsham,
Pennsylvania
       19044
 
 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   215-619-3200

N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 7.01.    Regulation FD Disclosure.

On December 22, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing its intention to change its name to Strata Skin Sciences, Inc. (the "Name Change") as disclosed in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.  The targeted effective date of the Name Change is January 5, 2016.  A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 8.01 Other Events
 
The Company has announced plans to change its name to Strata Skin Sciences, Inc. In connection with the Name Change, the Company also requested and reserved an updated stock trading ticker symbol, "SSKN", with respect to the Company's shares of common stock. In addition, as a result of the Name Change, the Company will be filing for a new CUSIP number.  The Company has targeted January 5, 2016 as the effective date for these changes.



Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
 
(d)
 Exhibits
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit Number
Description
 
 
 
 
 
 
99.1
Press Release by the Company, dated December 22, 2015.




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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
MELA SCIENCES, INC.
 
By:
/s/ Michael R. Stewart                                                                           
 
 
Michael R. Stewart     
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 

Date:  December 22, 2015


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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number
Description
 
 
99.1
Press Release by the Company, dated December 22, 2015.
 
 

4
 

 
EXHIBIT 99.1
 
 
MELA Sciences Announces Corporate Name Change to STRATA Skin Sciences
to Reflect Broader Dermatology Commitment


HORSHAM, Pennsylvania – December 22, 2015 -- MELA Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: MELA), today announced that it will be changing its corporate name to STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. effective Tuesday, January 5, 2016 and that it will trade under the symbol "SSKN" on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Michael R. Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer stated: "Our June 2015 XTRAC® acquisition has expanded the dermatological opportunities that the Company is pursuing with unique, innovative technologies. Today we have over 700 dermatology accounts that include over 3,000 dermatologists, covered with a 49 person sales and marketing organization of direct sales managers, sales management, clinical specialists, reimbursement specialists and call center support personnel. During the third quarter of 2015, our first full quarter of XTRAC operations, we generated revenues of $8.3 million,  including $7.0 million or 84.45% of recurring high-margin revenues, representing year over year growth of 15.9%."
 
STRATA's portfolio of products currently includes its flagship product, the XTRAC laser system for the effective treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo, as well as the VTRAC® excimer lamp system and MelaFind® , a multi-spectral digital skin lesion analysis system that assists in the identification of melanoma skin cancer.

STRATA advocates the need for personalized medical care and best practices in medical dermatology. Commercial momentum was gained when coverage policies for XTRAC treatments were secured from virtually all insurers, including Medicare.  XTRAC more recently created an expanded market outreach and awareness program aimed at the approximately 10 million psoriasis and vitiligo sufferes in the United States.  To support our customers we have developed and are continually enhancing a leading call center operation of patient advocates that bridge the gap between patients looking for solutions and our network of customers.
 
Continuing, Mr. Stewart added: "We reiterate our initial guidance of continuing revenue growth in the mid-to-high teens and  further cash flow improvements going forward.

To better reflect the broader dermatology market being served by the Company and our vision going forward, we have selected STRATA Skin Sciences as our new corporate name and are excited to officially launch this new corporate identity. The new name embodies our commitment to a wide range of therapeutic and diagnostic dermatological conditions with the common goal of increasing access, lowering costs and improving patient quality.
 
STRATA Skin Sciences enters 2016 with an infrastructure that positions us as a best-in-class player in medical dermatology and a partner-of-choice for emerging technologies looking for a strong and effective enterprise that can quickly scale and exploit unmet needs in the dermatology market."


About STRATA Skin Sciences (Formerly MELA Sciences, Inc.)
STRATA Skin Sciences is a medical technology company focused on the therapeutic and diagnostic dermatology market. Its products include the XTRAC laser and VTRAC excimer lamp systems utilized in the treatment of psoriasis, vitiligo and various other skin conditions; and the MelaFind system used to assist in the identification and management of melanoma.


Safe Harbor
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include but are not limited to the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and may contain words such as "will," "may," "seeks," and "expects," that suggest future events or trends. These statements, including the Company's ability to generate the anticipated revenue stream, the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to fund the Company's ongoing operations beginning in 2015 or at any time in the future, and the Company's ability to build a leading franchise in medical dermatology, are based on the Company's current expectations and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Actual results may
 
 


differ materially from the Company's expectations due to financial, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and political factors or conditions affecting the Company and the medical device industry in general, as well as more specific risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's SEC reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Given such uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect or unreliable. The Company assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements and urges investors to carefully review its SEC disclosures available at www.sec.gov and www.melasciences.com.

CONTACT:
Investor Contacts:
Christina Allgeier
STRATA Skin Sciences
215-619-3267
callgeier@melasciences.com

Bob Yedid
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
646-597-6989
Bob@LifeSciAdvisors.com