Baxter and bioMérieux Partner to Develop Novel Biomarkers for Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned that on March 19, at the International Symposium on Critical Care and Emergency Medicine held in Deerfield, Illinois, multinational medical supplies company Baxter announced a collaborative agreement with Biomérieux to jointly develop biomarkers for identifying acute kidney injury (AKI).

It is reported that Baxter, founded in 1931 and headquartered in Illinois, USA, is a diversified multinational medical products company focused on the research and development, manufacturing, and sales of products for the treatment of hemophilia, immune system disorders, infectious diseases, renal conditions, trauma, and other chronic and critical illnesses. As one of the leading companies in the global healthcare industry, Baxter entered China in the 1980s, becoming one of the first large multinational corporations to enter the Chinese healthcare market.

Founded in France in 1963, bioMérieux is a global leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics. It primarily provides diagnostic solutions (systems, reagents, software, and services) for identifying the sources of diseases or contamination, with the aim of improving patient health and ensuring consumer safety. Its products are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases and certain major conditions, while its diagnostic solutions can also be employed to detect microorganisms in agri-food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is typically a consequence of disease, trauma, or infection. The sudden loss of kidney function leads to the accumulation of toxins and fluids in the patient’s blood, which can be fatal if not treated promptly. In its most severe form, AKI requires renal replacement therapy (dialysis) to substitute for kidney function. Up to 60% of critically ill patients develop AKI, which can result in prolonged hospital stays, progression to chronic kidney disease, increased mortality risk, and higher healthcare costs. AKI can be prevented if patients receive appropriate care early on. Therefore, early diagnosis and rapid management are essential for patients at risk of AKI, as there are no specific treatments to reverse established AKI. Currently, urine output and serum creatinine are the two commonly used markers of kidney function. These lagging indicators require 6 hours and 24 hours, respectively, to indicate whether kidney injury has occurred.

Reaz Rasul, General Manager of Baxter’s business unit, stated, “We are committed to improving outcomes for critically ill patients, including the development of technologies for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI), to ensure patients receive optimal treatment. In collaborating with the bioMérieux team, we will combine their diagnostic expertise with our ICU experience to benefit a broad patient population.”

“Mark Miller, Chief Medical Officer of bioMérieux, stated, ‘As a leader in pioneering diagnostic solutions, we look forward to collaborating with Baxter to address major challenges in critical care medicine, such as acute kidney injury (AKI).’”

(Compiled by Li Chengping)