Renalytix AI and DaVita launch first-of-its-kind program for kidney disease diagnosis
(RENX ) said it is partnering with US healthcare company DaVita (NYSE: DVA) on a first-of-its-kind program aimed at slowing disease progression and improving health outcomes for the nation's estimated 37 million adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The new program is expected to improve patient outcomes and provide meaningful cost reductions by enabling earlier intervention for patients with early-stage kidney disease - for stages 1, 2 and 3 - through ‘actionable risk assessments and end-to-end care management.’
The program is expected to launch in three major markets this year. As it expands, both parties intend to pursue risk-sharing arrangements with healthcare providers and payors to drive kidney disease patient care innovation, cost efficiencies and improve quality of life.
The program will utilise the KidneyIntelX in vitro diagnostic platform from RenalytixAI, which uses a machine learning algorithm to assess a combination of biomarkers from a simple blood draw with features from the electronic health record to generate a patient-specific risk score.
The initial version of the risk score identifies Type 2 diabetic patients with early-stage CKD as low-, intermediate- or high-risk for progressive decline in kidney function or kidney failure.
After risk stratification, patients identified as intermediate- and high-risk by the program will receive care management support through DaVita's integrated kidney care program, for which RenalytixAI will compensate DaVita in lieu of providing those services itself.
‘Focused on the patient experience, these services are designed to empower patients to be active in their care, delay disease progression, improve outcomes and lower costs,’ it noted.
For patients whose kidney disease does progress, earlier intervention can provide the patient and treating nephrologist more time to make an informed decision about the treatment option that is best for them, including pre-emptive transplantation, home dialysis or in-center dialysis.
Shares in Renalytix AI have increased by almost 20% since the beginning of November 2020 to open 6.36% higher this morning at 587.5p following the announcement.
The integrated program may also help reduce kidney disease misclassification, which leaves some higher-risk patients without recommended treatment. RENX says the expected outcome of the collaboration will also be used in order to expand indicated use claims for KidneyIntelX.
James McCullough, RenalytixAI’s CEO said this is the first clinical-grade program to deliver advanced early-stage prognosis and risk stratification with actionable care management right to the primary care level “where the majority of kidney disease patients are being seen.”
He added, "Making fundamental change in kidney disease health economics and outcomes must begin with providing a clear, actionable understanding of disease progression risk."
Javier Rodriguez, DaVita’s CEO said, "Almost 50% of people whose kidneys fail find out after it is too late, and we are on a mission to change that. Our partnership with RenalytixAI could allow us to help slow disease progression for the millions of people living with kidney disease."
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