Renalytix (RENX) , an AI-enabled in vitro diagnostics company, has announced the opening of kidneyintelX.dkd™ testing in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, making the service commercially available in these markets. The expansion was made possible through a strategic distribution agreement with Vector Pharma.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, the GCC countries have reported high prevalence rates of diabetes, with more than 20% of the population being affected by the condition and over 15% classified as pre-diabetic, making it one of the highest incidence rates of diabetes worldwide.
In addition, this region faces a significant issue of chronic kidney disease as a complication of type 2 diabetes. Approximately 58% of individuals with type 2 diabetes in the GCC develop chronic kidney disease, leading to an increased risk of heart failure and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
"As in the United States, patient care for early-stage diabetes and kidney disease is in the hands of primary care clinicians," said Tom McLain, President, Renalytix. "Traditional laboratory distributors do not call on primary care practices. Our partnership with Vector Pharma, a pharmaceutical distributor with proven access and contacts in primary care, will accelerate efforts to introduce kidneyintelX.dkd and expand test adoption."
The move comes shortly after Renalytix received FDA marketing authorisation for kidneyintelX.dkd, where the company said it would take advantage of opportunities to expand testing services outside the US market with distribution partners.
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Renalytix’s expansion into GCC markets should help to alleviate some of the burden on healthcare systems in this region by improving chronic disease diagnosis with its KidneyIntelX.dkd test. The test splits patients into three risk levels - low, moderate, and high - which then provides clinicians with information on patient risk for progressive decline in kidney function within five years.
Global demand for KidneyIntelX.dkd is augmented by the fact that many people remain undiagnosed, with approximately 23% of adults unaware they have type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes affects various vital organs such as the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys, with diabetic kidney disease developing in 30-50% of individuals with type 2 diabetes.
KidneyIntelX.dkd is underpinned by Renalytix’s KidneyIntelX platform, which combines blood-based biomarkers with clinical variables using an AI-enabled algorithm, providing information to guide care in large, at-risk patient populations.
Overall, Renalytix's KidneyIntelX.dkd test should help to provide a solution to kidney disease management by assessing the risk and progression of kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
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