Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by the abrupt loss of kidney function, resulting in a failure to maintain fluid, electrolyte and acid-base homoeostasis over a period of hours or days. AKI is an increasing and widespread global problem that might be partially attributable to an ageing population and the age related risk factors such as incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and an expanding number of modifiable risk factors, such as sepsis, administration of contrast media and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs such as many antibiotics, chemotherapeutic drugs, contrast agents, etc.
Current AKI diagnostic technology is far from optimal, because the diagnosis is only possible late in the course of the condition, as it relies on the measurement of signs of renal dysfunction (mostly plasma creatinine concentration, the gold standard). This diagnosis technique is unable of informing on the cause of the AKI.
Bio-inRen has been working on the identification of a new generation of urine markers for the diagnosis of risk of drug-induced AKI and the etiological diagnosis of nephrotoxicity. Since the discovery of the innovative biomarkers Bio-inRen has been working on their validation in many preclinical experimental models of AKI, and is continuously looking for additional biomarkers for building a technological platform for integral AKI diagnosis. Thus, Bio-inRen is working on developing an AKI Diagnosis Kit based on these biomarkers to be used in human urine samples. Bio-inRen is interested in licensing both, the technological platform and the AKI diagnosis test.
The objectives of the present action were:
- To size and delimit the specific market niches to which the product will be first oriented
- To assess if the concept, technical utility and impact of the product for users, consumers and society can be recognized and confirmed by specialists in this pathology and the use of these type of diagnostic technologies.
- To precise the economic needs and the contingency plan for the clinical validation and dissemination step; to perform a thorough viability assessment; and to consolidate the business plan.
- To organize the industrial property (IP) strategy oriented at consolidating the actual IP policy and file one additional patent application.
- To look for future licensers/partners for our product
