NEW YORK (360Dx) – BioMérieux announced today it has acquired Astute Medical, a company identifying and validating protein biomarkers of medical conditions, for $90 million in cash.
Astute developed a test for risk assessment of kidney injuries, called Nephrocheck, based on the levels of two biomarkers, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-7, and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2. The test was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014 and the firm has since formed a distribution partnership in China and agreed with BioMérieux to develop and market the Nephrocheck test on BioMérieux's Vidas automated immunoassay system to assess a patient's risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI).
BioMérieux has also been a licensed distributor for the Nephrocheck test on the Astute140 Meter immunoassay platform in the US since 2017.
As many as half of all severely ill patients develop AKI, resulting in longer hospital stays, chronic kidney disease, higher mortality, and higher cost of care, BioMérieux said. A recent study reported a 34 percent reduction in moderate to severe AKI following heart surgery when clinicians used Nephrocheck to identify patients' risk for AKI and then implemented care recommended by guidelines.
"We are very enthusiastic to welcome the Astute team as part of BioMérieux after three years of beneficial collaboration," Alexandre Mérieux, BioMérieux's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. Mérieux added that, because of its relevance in many severe medical conditions, the Nephrocheck test fits BioMérieux's strategy of differentiating its Vidas offering through proprietary markers.
BioMérieux said it intends to continue to invest in health economic and outcome studies for Nephrocheck, explore the other biomarkers in the Astute pipeline, and work with Astute’s current license and distribution partners to make the test available to as many patients as possible worldwide.
"BioMérieux's global footprint, critical care presence, and dedication to areas of high medical need positions the company well to advance and scale this opportunity with the Astute team and its partners," said Chris Hibberd, CEO of Astute Medical.