Biel/Bienne-based startup Calciscon together with Amsterdam University Medical Centers and ADMESY have signed a collaborative agreement for the development of a laboratory benchtop analyzer for the measurement of the T50 test. The consortium has obtained €2M Eurostars funding.
Based on the breakthrough research in kidney medicine by Prof. Dr Andreas Pasch, Calciscon developed the T50 Calcification Propensity test, the first blood test to assess the ageing of the vascular system and best-in-class measurement for calcification-related cardiovascular risk. The primary use of T50 is to revolutionise the treatment of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, with the potential to significantly reduce their cardiovascular burden. The test has undergone multiple clinical validation studies with more than 20,000 participants.
T50 is currently available throughout Switzerland thanks to agreements with Inselspital, Dr Risch Laboratories and Synlab. “We started in 2022 with an early access program with selected sites across Switzerland, while our reimbursement request is being processed by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG)”, said Vincent Linder, CEO of Calciscon.
Aiming at end-stage kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis, the startup will first launch in Switzerland and the Netherlands before expanding to other European countries, following its reimbursement strategy. Discussions with strategic partners for a US launch are also underway.
Further advancements on T50
Calciscon, Amsterdam University Medical Centers and ADMESY have joined forces to form the CALPROTECT consortium. They will combine their excellence in calcification in vitro diagnostics (Calciscon), in-depth know-how on optical detection systems (Admesy) and world-renown expertise in clinical chemistry and nephrology research (Amsterdam UMC) in a €2M project funded by Eurostars.
The consortium will develop a T50 analyser to allow clinical laboratories worldwide to easily measure calcification propensity (T50) in blood. T50 measures the formation velocity of nanometer-sized calciprotein particles (CPP), known to induce calcification, inflammation and oxidative stress.
“Having the availability of T50 testing in clinical practice will improve identifying those people treated by dialysis at highest risk, while its serial measurements make it possible to personalise treatment and hold promise to improve their outcomes”, said Prof. Dr Marc Vervloet, Nephrologist at Amsterdam UMC. Admesy will develop a novel optical detection strategy for the detection of the calcified nanoparticles.
Calciscon will lead the integration of the technology into an IVD-grade analyser that will be tested in clinical settings at Amsterdam UMC. “Our hospital clinical laboratory is uniquely suited to assess the performance of a device when used with patients at high risk for vascular calcification”, said Dr Henrike Hamer, Clinical Chemist at Amsterdam UMC.
“This exciting development project is instrumental for bringing T50 to treating physicians worldwide to improve patient care”, said Vincent.
(Press release/RAN)
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