Proteomics International signs with PrismHealthDx for US launch of PromarkerD predictive test for diabetic kidney disease

Proteomics International has granted PHDx, head-quartered in Austin, Texas, a licence for the clinical market in the USA to make PromarkerD available to the more than 30 million Americans living with diabetes. Commercial details for the licensing agreement remain confidential.

The USA has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world and is by far the biggest spending country on diabetes-related healthcare. Kidney disease is responsible for 48,000 deaths a year in the USA - the ninth leading cause of death - and related healthcare spending tops US$50 billion a year.

Dialysis treatment alone costs US$72,000 per person per year, according to the US Renal Data System. Diabetes accounts for 44% of chronic kidney disease cases in the USA.

Proteomics International Managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe said PromarkerD was a major weapon in the battle against the diabetes epidemic. "Regular testing and early diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease with PromarkerD can help millions of people avoid costly and invasive dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant," he said.

"We are very excited to launch this product nationally across the USA," said Jim Canfield, President and CEO of PHDx. "This revolutionary technology will complement PHDx's existing portfolio to create the leading diabetes test offering in the country. It will save lives and improve the quality of life for diabetes sufferers, all while reducing the cost to the healthcare system."

Under the licence agreement PHDx will develop and commercialise the PromarkerD mass spectrometry "Laboratory Developed Test" (LDT) in its specialist certified laboratories. The LDT permits fast adoption of a new test in advanced markets.

PromarkerD is a simple blood test that uses a unique protein 'fingerprint' to detect signs of disease. PromarkerD is the first test able to predict the onset of diabetic kidney disease, warning of a decline in kidney function up to four years in advance. The test can also diagnose diabetic kidney disease better than the current gold standard tests.

PromarkerD has the potential to spare millions of people from future dialysis costs, and save the US healthcare system hundreds of billions of dollars.

For every million people living with diabetes, 10% - or 100,000 people - are expected to suffer a rapid decline in kidney function within the next four years. The PromarkerD test is able to predict this decline in kidney function in 86% of cases. This means that if every one of the 30 million Americans with diabetes took the test it would potentially identify 2.6 million of the 3 million people on the path to kidney disease.

Those identified would require systematic retesting to verify effectiveness of treatments. Another 84 million American adults - more than 1 out of 3 - have prediabetes, a precursor to diabetes, and may also benefit from taking the PromarkerD test.

Dr Lipscombe said the breakthrough deal for PromarkerD in the USA is important because it paves the way for other licensing contracts. "It is great to see PromarkerD launching in the world's largest healthcare market as we further negotiations to commercialise the test in other countries including Mexico, Japan, Australia, China and Europe."

About PromarkerD (www.PromarkerD.com^[1])PromarkerD is a predictive diagnostic test for diabetic kidney disease. In clinical studies presented in 2017 at the American Diabetes Association Annual Scientific Sessions [ASX: 10 June 2017] and published in the prestigious journal Diabetes Care [ASX: 6 September 2017], PromarkerD correctly predicted 86% of otherwise healthy diabetics who went on to develop chronic kidney disease within four years.

PromarkerD has been rated the world's leading diagnostic test for diabetic kidney disease by the global research house Frost & Sullivan in its report titled Biomarkers Enabling Diabetes and Obesity Management [ASX: 27 March 2017]. PromarkerD has received patent protection in several major jurisdictions including the USA, China, Europe and Japan, with others pending. Further information is available through the PromarkerD web portal.

About PHDx, Inc (www.phdxinc.com^[2])PrismHealthDx, Inc. (PHDx) is a precision medicine diagnostic laboratory and services company specialising in comprehensive biomarker testing to detect the onset of disease and serious medical conditions at their earliest and most treatable stage. PHDx provides a 'one-stop-shop' opportunity to integrate best-in-class laboratory and clinical medicine into practices, driving better clinical outcomes and helping to make an immediate difference in the lives of their patients.

PHDx's management team has extensive experience in developing and commercialising novel assays and they are committed to advancing new diagnostic and disease management capabilities. PHDx works in partnership with academic leaders, industry leaders, and clinical providers.

About Proteomics International Laboratories (PILL) Proteomics International (Perth, Western Australia) is a wholly owned subsidiary and trading name of PILL (ASX: PIQ), a medical technology company at the forefront of predictive diagnostics and bio-analytical services. The company specialises in the area of proteomics - the industrial scale study of the structure and function of proteins. It received the world's first ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation for proteomics services, and operates from state-of-the art facilities located on Perth's QEII Medical Campus. The Company's business model uses its proprietary technology platform across three integrated areas of diagnostics, drug discovery and analytical services. www.proteomicsinternational.com^[3].

Medical Contact:Chuck MorrisonHead of Business DevelopmentProteomics International T: +1 617 331 2975E: [email protected]^[4]

Jim CanfieldPresident & CEOPrismHealthDx, Inc. (PHDx )T: +1 770 335 0334

Media Contact:Susan Fitzpatrick-NapierDigital Mantra GroupT: +1 650 798 5238T: +61 2 8218 2144

Topic: Press release summarySectors: BioTech, HealthCare^[5][6] http://www.acnnewswire.com From the Asia Corporate News Network

Copyright © 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.

References

1. ^{^} www.PromarkerD.com (www.PromarkerD.com)
2. ^{^} www.phdxinc.com (www.phdxinc.com)
3. ^{^} www.proteomicsinternational.com (www.proteomicsinternational.com)
4. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
5. ^{^} BioTech (www.acnnewswire.com)
6. ^{^} HealthCare (www.acnnewswire.com)