Interdepartmental testing of the kidney function biomarker penKid in routine care at Heidelberg University Hospital and the Heidelberg Kidney Center
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex syndrome, which results in a rapid loss of kidney function, affecting 1 in 5 patients (1) during hospitalization.
- Four units at the University Hospital Heidelberg and Heidelberg Kidney Center implement Proenkephalin (penKid) in a pilot biomarker-based treatment approach to diagnose AKI faster and monitor it more accurately across departments.
- PenKid is a proposed biomarker for real-time kidney function that potentially closes on the gaps of the standard diagnostic procedures.
Hennigsdorf, Germany, August 26, 2022 -
The diagnostic company SphingoTec GmbH (SphingoTec) announces the introduction of novel biomarker penKid in the clinical routine management of patients on a test basis in a total of four units at the University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD) and Heidelberg Kidney Center (NZH). This includes the normal, the intermediate care (IMC), the nephrology, and the intensive care units (ICU) of both clinics in Heidelberg. According to recent data, the new diagnostic tool provides a faster and more accurate assessment of kidney function than current practice and aims to improve the management of patients with AKI. The condition is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and is a frequent complication of severe diseases, such as sepsis.
The pilot implementation of penKid was started in cooperation with the Clinic for Anesthesiology at UKHD and the NZH with the long-term goal of improving the monitoring of patient’s kidney function. This routine use of penKid on a centralized level in the hospital drives innovation on multiple wards such as nephrology, ICU and IMC. The biomarker will be used on top of standard of care, in order to compare penKid with the existing standard diagnostics. Better and faster information assessment of kidney function helps detect AKI earlier, so that prompt action can be taken to protect renal function and improve patient prognosis.
Prof. Dr. med. Martin Zeier, Medical Director at NZH added, “After the first experience of penKid on the point of care analyzer from SphingoTec, we have decided to implement it in the central laboratory to apply the test in more patients at the same time. The goal is to investigate the added value compared to established renal function parameters in routine diagnostics. To date, our data suggest better and more direct information about kidney function, which may allow for more rapid action. Acute kidney injury is a serious condition that needs to be detected early and counteracted promptly. When the critically ill patients are undergoing renal replacement therapy, the decision to terminate the treatment is of high importance for the success of the therapy. With penKid we may achieve better insights that complement our current practices, and we have strong hopes that this will help us improve patient outcomes on short and long term.”
PenKid is a promising biomarker to determine kidney function. It has been studied in over 55,000 patients showing the potential to reflect kidney function in real-time (2,3). Data from the PredARRT-Sep-Trial enrolling patients hospitalized in the surgical ICU of UKHD showed that penKid is a kidney function biomarker with rapid kinetics. According to these findings shared with the scientific community during the AKI&CRRT 2021 conference in San Diego US (4), penKid especially indicates changes in kidney function more dynamically than established functional markers. For those patients in critical conditions who require dialysis, penKid seems to be an early indicator of the kidney function and a potential tool to monitor kidney function and recovery during dialysis.
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Weigand, Medical Director of the Clinic for Anesthesiology at UKHD commented “On the ICU we experience the extreme of human disease, and AKI remains a serious complication in critically ill patients. A biomarker alerting changes in the kidney function faster than the currently known standards and uninfluenced by inflammation, has a significant potential for improving patient management. The sooner we identify a patient with kidney dysfunction, the faster we can intervene with life-saving procedures.”
Dr. Andreas Bergmann, founder and CSO of SphingoTec added “Testing penKid in routine practice at University Hospital Heidelberg brings the scientific advancements directly to those needing them the most: the patients. AKI is usually diagnosed after symptoms manifest, with diagnostic tests that have limited ability to identify early the onset of the disease. The blind spots in diagnosing kidney dysfunction are well known to the medical community, therefore penKid is a functional biomarker that addresses a clear unmet need and provides actionable information on all stages of the disease evolution.”
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References:
1. Wang HE, Muntner P, Chertow GM, Warnock DG. Acute kidney injury and mortality in hospitalized patients. Am J Nephrol. 2012;35(4):349-55. doi: 10.1159/000337487. Epub 2012 Apr 2. PMID: 22473149; PMCID: PMC3362180.
2. Beunders R et al. Proenkephalin Compared to Conventional Methods to Assess Kidney Function in Critically Ill Sepsis Patients. Shock. 2020;54(3):308-14.
3. Donato LJ et al. Analytical performance of an immunoassay to measure proenkephalin. Clin Biochem. 2018;58:72-7
4. https://www.crrtonline.com/conference/support/AKI&CRRT2021_Syllabus.pdf
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About SphingoTec
SphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) develops and markets innovative in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for novel and proprietary biomarkers for the diagnosis, prediction and monitoring of acute medical conditions. SphingoTec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis or congestive heart failure, Proenkephalin (penKid), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function, and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 (DPP3), a unique biomarker for cardiac depression. IVD tests for SphingoTec’s proprietary biomarkers are made available as sphingotest® microtiter plate tests as well as point-of-care tests on the Nexus IB10 immunoassay platform by SphingoTec’s subsidiary Nexus Dx Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) alongside a broad menu of established and commonly used tests for acute and critical care.
Media contact:
Ulrike Glaubitz
Sr. Public relations specialist
SphingoTec GmbH
Neuendorfstr. 15 A
16761 Hennigsdorf
Tel. +49-3302-20565-0
press@sphingotec.com
www.sphingotec.com
• PenKid surpasses serum creatinine on Day 1 post-transplant in detecting delayed graft function (DGF), with an AUROC of 0.87 versus 0.56 for creatinine. • PenKid differentiates slow graft function (SGF) from DGF up to 8 days earlier than current methods, supporting more timely clinical decisions. • PenKid levels remain unaffected by kidney replacement therapy (KRT), allowing for more accurate assessment of kidney function. • Independent validation in transplant cohort from Australia confirms performance and broad applicability. Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany, July 1, 2025 - Diagnostic company SphingoTec GmbH (“SphingoTec”) announces a landmark study (1) published in Transplant International, led by Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany in collaboration with researchers from Sydney, Australia, which identifies Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) as a reliable biomarker for early and precise assessment of graft function trajectories following kidney transplantation. The research demonstrates that PenKid not only identifies patients at risk for DGF significantly earlier than traditional markers but also distinguishes between slow and delayed graft function with remarkable accuracy, offering clinicians a valuable new tool for patient management. The study prospectively evaluated 159 consecutive kidney transplant recipients at Heidelberg University Hospital and validated findings in an independent cohort from Sydney. PenKid consistently outperformed serum creatinine (SCr) in predicting graft function trajectories, particularly in the critical early post-transplant period. Notably, PenKid’s ability to remain unaffected by KRT—a treatment for severe kidney dysfunction—further sets it apart from SCr, which can be influenced by non-renal factors and KRT itself, thereby enhancing the reliability of graft function assessment. Multivariate analysis confirmed PenKid as the strongest independent predictor of both short-term graft function and 30-day outcomes, underscoring its clinical utility for early risk stratification. The biomarker’s superior granularity allows for nuanced classification of DGF severity, supporting more informed decisions regarding the initiation of dialysis or biopsy and offering potential for individualized patient care. With these findings, penKid steps forward as a practical addition to the transplant clinician’s toolkit, promising to sharpen decision-making for optimal outcomes. Its adoption could help transplant teams act with greater confidence and precision, ultimately strengthening the standard of care in kidney transplantation. ## References 1. Benning L et al. (2025) Proenkephalin A 119-159 in Kidney Transplantation: A Novel Biomarker for Superior Tracking of Graft Function Trajectories. Transpl. Int. 38:14366. doi: 10.3389/ti.2025.14366 About SphingoTec SphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) is a biomarker company focusing on the out-licensing of innovative critical care solutions for diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring acute medical conditions. SphingoTec develops its biomarkers to the commercial stage and partners with IVD companies to make them available on different IVD platforms. SphingoTec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker for the assessment of kidney function in critical diseases, commercially available on diagnostic platforms AFIAS and Nexus IB10 and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM), a biomarker for the assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis. Discover more on www.sphingotec.com Contact : Ruxandra Lenz Marketing and Communication SphingoTec GmbH Phone +49-3302-20565-0 Email: press@sphingotec.com
• Boditech Med and SphingoTec announce the launch of the AFIAS sphingotest® penKid® assay, a diagnostic tool designed to aid in kidney function assessment for critically ill patients. • The IVDR-marked assay provides quantitative measurements of Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), supporting clinical decision-making in acute and critical care. • This launch follows a licensing agreement granting Boditech the rights to develop and commercialize penKid-based assays, as well as a market development agreement between the two companies. Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea, and Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany, May 6, 2025 - Boditech Med Inc. (“Boditech”) and SphingoTec GmbH (“SphingoTec”) today announced the commercial launch of the AFIAS sphingotest® penKid® assay. The assay is designed to provide clinicians with a tool for assessing kidney function in critically ill patients by measuring Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker that reflects real-time kidney function independently of inflammation or comorbidities. The AFIAS sphingotest® penKid® assay is IVDR-marked for its intended use as an automated fluorescence immunoassay for the in vitro diagnostic quantitative determination of Proenkephalin A 119-159 in human whole blood/plasma, serving as an aid in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in adult patients with sepsis or septic shock. It provides additional information to support clinical decision-making in managing critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). This launch is the result of a strategic collaboration between Boditech and SphingoTec, including a licensing agreement granting Boditech the rights to develop and commercialize penKid-based assays on its diagnostic platforms, as well as a market development agreement aimed at accelerating global commercialization efforts. Eui-Yul Choi, CEO of Boditech Med, commented: “We are proud to introduce the AFIAS sphingotest® penKid® assay to clinicians worldwide. This launch reflects our commitment to delivering innovative diagnostic solutions that address critical needs in healthcare. Our collaboration with SphingoTec has been instrumental in bringing this important tool to market.” Deborah Bergmann, CEO of SphingoTec, added: “The launch of AFIAS sphingotest® penKid® demonstrates how partnerships can drive innovation and improve access to advanced diagnostics. By combining our biomarker expertise with Boditech’s diagnostic capabilities, we are reaching a new chapter in our collaboration. We are streamlining our processes to support the business of our license partners and further expand our global reach. This enables us to provide clinicians with essential tools to enhance patient care.” Scientific insights on penKid PenKid is a biomarker that enables real-time assessment of kidney function (1). Unlike traditional markers such as serum creatinine, penKid levels are not influenced by inflammation or other confounding factors like age or sex (1,2,3). Studies have shown that penKid allows earlier detection of acute kidney injury (AKI), predicting changes in serum creatinine up to 48 hours before conventional diagnostic criteria are met (1,3). This early detection capability is particularly valuable in critically ill patients, including those with sepsis or septic shock (1,3,4). Additionally, penKid has shown potential for monitoring renal recovery under dialysis and could help predict successful weaning from renal replacement therapy (5,6). ## References 1. Hollinger A, et.al. Proenkephalin A 119-159 (Penkid) Is an Early Biomarker of Septic Acute Kidney Injury: The Kidney in Sepsis and Septic Shock (Kid-SSS) Study. Kidney Int Rep. 2018 Aug 22;3(6):1424-1433. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2018.08.006. 2. Beunders et al. Assessing GFR With Proenkephalin, Kidney International Reports, 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2023.08.006 3. Caironi et al., Circulating proenkephalin, acute kidney injury, and its improvement in patients with severe sepsis or shock. Clin Chem (2018) DOI:10.1373/clinchem.2018.288068 4. Moledina DG. Penkid: A Novel Biomarker of Reduced GFR in Sepsis. Kidney Int Rep. 2018 Nov 15;4(1):17-19. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2018.11.002. 5. von Groote T et al. Proenkephalin A 119–159 predicts early and successful liberation from renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a post hoc analysis of the ELAIN trial. Crit Care 26, 333 (2022). doi.org/10.1186/s13054-022-04217-4 6. von Groote T, et al. Evaluation of Proenkephalin A 119-159 for liberation from renal replacement therapy: an external, multicenter pilot study in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Crit Care. 2023 Jul 10;27(1):276. doi: 10.1186/s13054-023-04556-w. About Boditech Boditech Med (based in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea) is a leading company in the field of point-of-care diagnostics, which has accumulated 25 years of business expertise in the field. The company has more than 80 types of in vitro diagnostic products that detect biomarkers related to infectious diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and hormone-related diseases with its immunofluorescence lateral flow technology, quantitative immunofluorescence technology and spectrophotometric technology. And the list continues to grow with new high-value-added products. With its instrument platform installed in more than 120 countries, the company also has a stable revenue model. The company is currently strengthening its value as a global company by expanding its manufacturing bases in the US, China, India, and Indonesia. About SphingoTec SphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) is a diagnostic company focusing on the out-licensing of innovative critical care biomarkers for diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring acute medical conditions. SphingoTec develops its biomarkers to the commercial stage and partners with IVD companies to make them available on different IVD platforms. SphingoTec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker for the assessment of kidney function in critical diseases, commercially available on diagnostic platforms AFIAS and Nexus IB10 and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM), a biomarker for the assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis. Discover more on www.sphingotec.com Contact: Ruxandra Lenz Head of Marketing and Communication SphingoTec GmbH Phone +49-3302-20565-0 Email: press@sphingotec.com