Chiesi Farmaceutici, Molecular Warehouse to develop diagnostic tool for transplant patients

Chiesi Farmaceutici has collaborated with Molecular Warehouse to develop novel diagnostic system, which will allow transplant patients to remotely monitor their immunosuppressant levels.

Transplant patients receiving a graft from a donor required to take immunosuppressant drugs such as Envarsus (tacrolimus prolonged release) to avoid organ rejection.

The levels of these drugs in the bloodstream of the patient need to be cautiously monitored to maintain the drug concentration in a range, which lowers the reactivity of the immune system to prevent rejection.

At the same time, the patient does not expose to an increased risk of opportunistic infections.

The partnership will design a system that will allow patients to self-test at home by using finger-prick blood test, which is connected to their smartphone.

Specialist clinicians will be provided with the test results, helping patients to monitor their intake of drugs is within the desired range.

Currently, the patients are going to hospital or specialised clinic regularly to undertake a blood test for immunosuppressants, which is affecting the patient’s quality of life and increasing pressure on the healthcare system’s resources.

Chiesi CEO Ugo Di Francesco said: “We are really pleased to be supporting the development of breakthrough innovations that can significantly improve transplant patients’ quality of life.

“Our immunosuppressant drug, Envarsus, is based on a proprietary technological platform enabling an improved pharmacokinetic profile and a once-daily formulation which has been demonstrated to improve the ease of taking medication for transplant patients.”

Molecular Warehouse CEO Dr Siro Perez said: “We are very excited to have found in Chiesi a partner with the vision, innovative mind-set, and deep understanding of the needs of transplantation patients and physicians, to work with us developing our diagnostic platform.”

Image: Chiesi and Molecular Warehouse will develop diagnostic system that will allow allow patients to self-test at home. Photo: courtesy of jk1991 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.