bioMérieux announces the CE marking of NEPHROCHECK® test on VIDAS®

AKI is a common complication, affecting between 7 and 18% of all hospitalized patients1 and up to 50% of critically ill patients2. The condition is associated with a 10-fold increase in hospital mortality and a higher rate of chronic kidney disease among post-op patients3.

While a number of acute risk factors and patient characteristics have been identified which predispose patients to AKI4, there is no reliable way for a clinician to establish a clear risk profile for any given patient. Delays in recognizing AKI can potentially lead to irreversible consequences. In many cases, adverse patient outcomes are avoidable if the condition is identified and managed in a timely fashion5.

NEPHROCHECK® is an innovative test that detects kidney stress prior to actual damage, when a timely intervention can still make a difference. It is intended to be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation as an aid to support the risk assessment of moderate or severe AKI in acutely ill patients. With this early information, clinicians may either rule out kidney stress with confidence, or implement a series of protective measures for the kidneys.

The NEPHROCHECK® test relies on the detection of 2 innovative urinary biomarkers: TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2) and IGFBP-7 (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7). Both proteins are produced by stressed kidney cells as an early warning signal, before the onset of AKI. Specific to kidney stress, they are not affected by any of the usual co-morbidities (such as sepsis, trauma, chronic kidney disease or cancer).

“As a predictive tool for AKI, NEPHROCHECK ® provides clinicians with high medical-value information and can lead to benefits in patient care and improved outcomes. The development of this test is consistent with our focus on improving care for individuals with acute medical and critical conditions. It complements our existing pioneering assays for these patients, such as procalcitonin (PCT),” said Mark Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, bioMérieux.

“Considering the proportion of patients affected each year, AKI represents a significant burden on the functioning of intensive care units and has a huge economic impact on healthcare systems. Innovative assays like NEPHROCHECK® not only contribute to improved patient outcomes but could potentially help optimize hospital costs,” said Pierre Boulud, Chief Operating Officer, Clinical Operations of bioMérieux.

Effective immediately, VIDAS® NEPHROCHECK® is available in key European markets and will gradually be deployed in countries that recognize CE marking. Hospitals and private laboratories will be able to run the tests on bioMérieux’s VIDAS® 3 system, which allows for higher throughput, automation and traceability. bioMérieux is planning a submission for FDA clearance in the near future.

ABOUT VIDAS®

Launched 30 years ago, VIDAS® has transformed the field of immunoassays offering laboratories universal access to a simple, automated and robust technology providing fast and safe results. Today, VIDAS® is still the most widely used immunoassay system in clinical laboratories worldwide.

The VIDAS® menu comprises over 100 parameters, covering a wide range of pathologies, including infectious diseases and chronic diseases, as well as a range of tests dedicated to emergency and critical care. A number of these parameters are part of the bioMérieux full solution to address the global challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sepsis. As it enters into its fourth decade, VIDAS® remains a major focus of the bioMérieux immunoassay strategy with ongoing research into new parameters and frequent launches that create value for labs and clinicians, ultimately bringing benefits for patients.