Brought to you by Bulls N’ Bears
Doug Bright
Proteomics International Laboratories has announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study in the Internal Medicine Journal, highlighting the effectiveness of its PromarkerD blood test in Australia.
Against the backdrop of findings announced yesterday that PromarkerD effectively predicts diabetic kidney disease (DKD) risk up to four years in advance, including in high-risk indigenous Australian populations, the study has demonstrated how the test is reshaping decision-making by doctors.
The web-based study surveyed 178 Australian general practitioners and specialists, presenting them with real-life patient scenarios involving type 2 diabetes. It found risk scores from PromarkerD – presented as a blind “Test X” – significantly altered the clinical decisions made by Australian doctors.
High-risk scores in the results prompted a 20–30 per cent increase in doctors’ prescribing intentions for kidney-protective therapies, including SGLT2 inhibitors, which help protect kidney function by reducing glucose reabsorption.
‘PromarkerD provides actionable information that can meaningfully change how clinicians manage patients with type 2 diabetes.’
Proteomics International Laboratories managing director Dr Richard Lipscombe
High risk signatures also prompted a greater likelihood of prescribing other kidney treatments, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure and reduce strain on the heart. The medication is also commonly used for hypertension and heart failure.
Other kidney-protective drugs in the doctor’s toolkit include ARB receptor blockers, which, alongside statins for cholesterol management, can help control blood pressure and safeguard kidneys.
Both ACE’s and ARB’s act to inhibit the actions of the hormone Angiotensin II, allowing blood vessels to relax and widen, thereby reducing blood pressure and the heart’s workload. ACE inhibitors block the enzyme that makes Angiotensin II, while ARBs block Angiotensin II from its receptors.
Angiotensin II is a key regulator of blood pressure and fluid balance. In relation to kidney function, it narrows blood vessels, raises blood pressure and triggers thirst. In turn, that increases water intake and forces the kidneys to retain salt and water, all elevating blood pressure and volume.
Proteomics International Laboratories managing director Dr Richard Lipscombe said: “This new Australian study reinforces the growing body of evidence demonstrating that PromarkerD provides actionable information that can meaningfully change how clinicians manage patients with type 2 diabetes.”
Moderate-risk patients also saw notable treatment adjustments, with clinicians optimising dosages or reducing exposure to drugs that are potentially harmful to the kidneys.
High-risk PromarkerD scores also led to more frequent monitoring, every 3–6 months, coupled with specialist referrals, while lower-risk scores correspondingly reduced the need for patient monitoring.
Senior author Professor Merlin Thomas, a nephrologist and Professor of Medicine at Monash University in Melbourne, said that PromarkerD provides an opportunity to identify those at risk of chronic kidney disease much earlier, before clinical signs of decline are evident.
He added that when clinicians were shown moderate or high-risk PromarkerD results, they were far more likely to initiate kidney-protecting therapies and increase monitoring frequency. They also became more cautious about using medications that can harm the kidneys, such as ibuprofen, compared with cases where they did not have the PromarkerD results.
He explained that these changes can also help prevent or delay progression to kidney failure and reduce the need for interventions such as dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Notably, 89 per cent of physicians believed PromarkerD would improve clinical outcomes, with over 85 per cent viewing it as helpful in guiding decisions and potentially reducing healthcare costs.
The company says the results mirror previously reported positive findings in the US. They also underscore PromarkerD’s role in addressing an unmet need for the early detection of diabetes-related kidney disease in Australia’s 1.5 million adults with the condition.
As diagnostic tools such as PromarkerD advance, they offer renewed hope for better management of diabetes and kidney disease risks across all populations, enabling earlier interventions and improved long-term outcomes for millions worldwide.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
