Medical technology company Proteomics International (ASX:PIQ) has extended its distribution agreement with medical diagnostics company Apacor to bring its Promarker D predictive test for diabetic kidney disease to patients in the UK.

The 2 companies began working together in November 2021, signing an initial 2 year licence agreement. Since then Proteomics reports several key milestones have been achieved, including PromarkerD being registered for use with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the publication of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advice on PromarkerD.

Based on this success, both companies have agreed to extend the relationship, and have agreed to an additional 5 year term. Proteomics reports both parties are now working towards the inclusion of PromarkerD in the NICE Guidelines, and engaging with the National Health Service (NHS) Supply Chain Tender process as part of the commercial rollout of the test in the UK.

“Apacor are proving to be an invaluable partner for creating greater awareness of PromarkerD in the UK”

The company will provide timelines for these processes when known. It also notes the updated distribution provides Apacor with the exclusive right to sell the immunoassay version of the PromarkerD test in England, Scotland, and Wales. The initial term of the updated agreement expires on 31 January 2028, and is extendable for additional periods of 3 years by mutual agreement.

Under this agreement, Proteomics will receive payment for each PromarkerD kit sold. Both parties have the right to terminate the agreement with immediate effect upon the breach of any material terms of the agreement.

Commenting on the extended agreement, Proteomics International Managing Director Richard Lipscombe said: “Apacor are proving to be an invaluable partner for creating greater awareness of PromarkerD in the UK.

They have 30 years of experience in the medical and analytical diagnostics and we’ve been impressed by their skills, experience and network, especially their strong relationships with government and professional healthcare bodies across the UK.”

Also commenting, Apacor Managing Director Anthony Bellm says he was excited by the feedback they were seeing for PromarkerD and being able to partner with Proteomics International to bring the test to the UK.

“This world-first test offers huge benefits for the growing number of people living with diabetes in Great Britain, as well as significant savings to the NHS.

The test will support doctors in providing early treatment options for high-risk patients, while avoiding unnecessary interventions for patients who are predicted to be at low risk of a decline in kidney function.”

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious complication arising from diabetes which if left unchecked can lead to dialysis or a kidney transplant. PromarkerD is a prognostic test that can predict future kidney function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes and no existing DKD.

This test uses a simple blood test to detect a ‘fingerprint’ of the early onset of the diseases by measuring 3 serum protein biomarkers, combined with 3 routinely available conventional clinical variables including age, HDL-cholesterol, and estimated glomerular filtration rate). A cloud based algorithm then integrates these results into a patient risk report.

Clinical studies demonstrate PromarkerD correctly predicted up to 86% of otherwise healthy diabetics who went on to develop DKD within 4 years.

In the UK, an estimated 4.8 million people, or 7% of the population live with type 2 diabetes. The company also notes the NHS spends at least UK$10 billion per year on diabetes, which equals 10% of its budget.

Apacor is a UK-based medical diagnostic company which develops and markets diagnostic solutions to laboratories across the globe.

Proteomics International is a Perth-based medical technology that specialises in predictive diagnostics, and bio-analytical services by studying the structure and function of proteins.