The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has announced an investment from its Innovation Fund into Biohope, a biotechnology company creating precision diagnostics to tailor immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplant recipients, as well as patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

This funding will help Biohope finalize clinical validation studies, pursue U.S. regulatory approval, and promote widespread use of its lead product, Immunobiogram-, a cutting-edge in vitro diagnostic system that enables clinicians to customize immunosuppressive regimens, lower risks, and prolong the viability of transplanted kidneys.

Kidney transplant patients depend on lifelong immunosuppressive drugs to avert organ rejection. Traditional protocols often depend on trial-and-error modifications, which can trigger grave issues such as rejection, infections, cardiovascular conditions, toxicity, and eventual graft failure. Biohope's platform seeks to allow physicians to fine-tune therapies based on each patient's unique immune profile.

Biohope indicates that up to 50% of kidney transplant recipients suffer graft loss within 10 years, emphasizing the pressing need for individualized post-transplant management.

"A kidney transplant is not the conclusion of a patient's path - it launches a lifetime of balancing drugs and their adverse effects," remarked Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient himself. "Biohope's advancements aim to equip clinicians with tools to customize immunosuppressive therapy, diminish complications, shield transplanted kidneys, and extend organ function to ultimately preserve lives."

Immunobiogram- assesses a patient's immune cell reactions to various immunosuppressive agents, creating custom sensitivity profiles to inform precise treatment choices. Biohope states the system, now available commercially in Spain, has undergone testing in over 1,000 patients through numerous clinical trials.

"For kidney transplant recipients, striking the proper immunosuppression balance is an enduring hurdle," noted Virginia González, CEO of Biohope. "The NKF possesses profound insight into the challenges confronting transplant patients and healthcare providers. Their investment will prove vital as we wrap up clinical validation, secure U.S. regulatory clearance, and deliver personalized immunosuppressive therapy to a broader patient population."

Biohope's technology centers on kidney transplantation today, while eyeing expansions into autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Established in 2021, the NKF Innovation Fund accelerates financing, development, and commercialization of essential therapies for kidney patients. It targets early- to mid-stage enterprises crafting innovative, patient-centered solutions for kidney care. The fund's enduring objectives include averting kidney disease, clearing transplant waitlists, and delivering superior, safer dialysis options to enhance patients' quality of life and productivity.

Kidney Disease
In the United States, over 37 million adults live with kidney disease, or chronic kidney disease (CKD), with roughly 90% unaware of their condition. Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults faces risk for kidney disease. Key risk factors encompass diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and family history. Individuals of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander backgrounds face elevated risks. Black or African American individuals are roughly four times more prone to kidney failure than White individuals, while Hispanics encounter it at about twice the rate of White people.

About Biohope
Biohope is a biotechnology enterprise specializing in precision medicine for immunology. Its core offering, Immunobiogram-, provides a tailored diagnostic tool to refine immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation by gauging personal immune responses to diverse drugs. Launched in 2015, Biohope develops solutions to boost graft longevity, curb complications, and foster individualized care in transplantation and immune-related disorders.

About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is transforming efforts to preserve lives by curbing preventable kidney disease, spurring innovations that honor patient dignity, and addressing systemic disparities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation.

SOURCE National Kidney Foundation