Sphingotec

22/09/2025

Dr Florian Uhle, Chief Medical Officer and managing director at SphingoTec, attended the official launch of the ADORABLE consortium on September 17th in Groningen. This exciting collaboration unites leading academic and industry partners to improve the qualification of donor organs using cutting-edge biomarkers and data-driven approaches, aiming to enhance outcomes in kidney transplantation.

The ADORABLE consortium, coordinated by University Medical Center Groningen and supported by the Dutch National Research Agenda, focuses on developing precise biomarker-based tools to better assess donor kidney quality before transplantation. This effort addresses a critical challenge, as a relevant proportion of organs will disqualify for transplantation and even if, nearly half of transplanted kidneys fail within ten years – partly due to limitations in current assessment methods.

Within this scope, Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a well-established functional biomarker, holds particular promise. Based on growing scientific evidence, penKid delivers rapid and real-time insights into kidney health, enabling earlier and more precise detection of acute kidney injury and functional changes compared to traditional markers. Recent studies in kidney transplant patients show penKid’s ability to predict delayed graft function - and its severity – days earlier than serum creatinine, helping clinicians to tailor interventions proactively.

Together, the ADORABLE consortium and innovative biomarkers like penKid aim to transform donor organ evaluation and post-transplant care, re-shaping pathways for a more personalized and effective treatment.

Learn more about the ADORABLE project here: https://adorable-consortium.org/

The ADORABLE Consortium advances kidney transplant outcomes through AI-based decision support tools using novel biomarkers and machine learning. We aim for clinical impact by 2035 with our vision of ‘one kidney for life’.

19/08/2025

🌟 New S3 Sepsis Guidelines Published 🌟
The updated S3 guidelines on sepsis prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and aftercare introduce important recommendations for kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with sepsis and septic shock. They emphasize the timely initiation of KRT in cases of life-threatening disturbances in fluid balance, acid-base status, or electrolyte levels, and recommend flexibility in the choice of technique and dosing. https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/079-001

However, the guidelines also point to a notable gap — there is no specific recommendation on when to discontinue KRT. This decision remains a major clinical challenge in managing sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI).

This is where Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a functional biomarker, holds promise for supporting clinical decision-making in this context, based on growing scientific evidence. PenKid delivers real-time insights into kidney function dynamics, enabling earlier and more precise detection of AKI compared to traditional biomarkers. Its benefits include the ability to predict AKI onset, monitor progression, and assess kidney recovery, offering valuable support throughout the course of kidney function management in septic patients.

With the updated guidelines highlighting a gap on when to stop KRT, recent studies have shown that penKid levels can reflect renal recovery, helping clinicians identify the optimal timing to safely discontinue therapy. This evidence-based approach supports more personalized and effective care for patients with sepsis and AKI. Access the papers here: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/6/2602 and https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/20/10873 Stay tuned - more evidence to be released soon!

➡ Together, the guideline updates and innovative clinical tools like penKid pave the way for improved decision-making and patient outcomes in critical care.

07/08/2025

🔬 Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid): A Promising Biomarker for Early AKI Detection

The latest Intensive Care Medicine review (2025) highlights penKid as a next-generation functional biomarker for assessing kidney function in critically ill patients. Key insights from the review:
• Reflects real-time glomerular filtration rate (GFR), offering sensitive and rapid information.
• Detects early or subclinical acute kidney injury (AKI), even before changes in serum creatinine manifest.
• Predicts AKI development and poor outcomes in ICU patients, including in those undergoing renal replacement therapy.
• Independent of inflammation and other common confounders such as drugs and comorbidities
• Validated in large, multicenter cohorts referenced in the review, demonstrating its clinical performance.

The review places penKid as a valuable addition to the current AKI diagnostic toolbox for earlier diagnosis, enabling timely interventions for better long-term outcomes.

Read more in the paper https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-025-08015-8

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a heterogeneous syndrome that not only affects short-term morbidity and mortality but also influences long-term outcomes. AKI is part of acute kidney disease (AKD) that encompasses a range of different conditions and is characterized by a kidney dysfunction lasting 90 da...

30/07/2025

In the heart of Chicago, SphingoTec is connecting with peers at ADLM 2025, focusing on the latest approaches in diagnostic biomarkers for acute care.
🤝 Our Managing Directors, Deborah Bergmann and Florian Uhle, are engaging with industry leaders to deepen collaborations and explore opportunities that advance our commitment to improving critical care diagnostics.
At SphingoTec, we specialize in pioneering biomarker innovations that address urgent unmet needs in acute care conditions such as sepsis, acute kidney injury, and acute heart failure. Our portfolio of innovative biomarkers, including penKid and bio-ADM, delivers actionable insights to support timely clinical decisions and enhance patient management. These solutions align with our vision to close diagnostic gaps and develop meaningful innovations for healthcare.

Laboratory diagnostics play a fundamental role across nearly every step of patient care—guiding detection, informing clinical decisions, monitoring treatment, and shaping prevention strategies. Studies and policy analyses have recognized that access to effective diagnostics is critical for providing high-quality, timely care, especially in acute and critical care settings. Participation at ADLM enables us to engage internationally with partners who share our goal of advancing laboratory medicine innovation for critical care.

🌎 We look forward to strengthening existing relationships and exploring new collaborations to accelerate bringing our diagnostic biomarkers from development into clinical practice.

01/07/2025

In a landmark study published in Transplant International, led by Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany in collaboration with researchers from Sydney, Australia, Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) is identified as a reliable biomarker for the early and precise assessment of graft function trajectories following kidney transplantation.

The research demonstrates that PenKid not only identifies patients at risk for delayed graft function 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.

▶️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.

Read the press release https://ow.ly/8kQW50WillE

26/06/2025

We are honored to have participated in the 43rd Vicenza Course on AKI, CRRT, EBPT, and Critical Care Nephrology—an event renowned for fostering dialogue and innovation among global experts. This year’s gathering continues to set the standard for advancing patient care in acute kidney injury.
Sphingotec was represented by managing directors Deborah Bergman and Florian Uhle, who actively engaged with attendees throughout the program. Our biomarker penkid played a central role, featured prominently in both plenary and Meet the Expert sessions.

A key highlight was the Meet the Expert interview hosted by Florian Uhle, featuring Prof. Lui Forni. The session drew record participation from the critical care nephrology community, with interactive discussions on the future of AKI diagnostics. Prof. Forni shared expert perspectives on how functional and damage biomarkers are transforming the approach to AKI, underscoring the importance of early and accurate diagnosis for better patient outcomes.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the organizers, speakers, and all participants for their engagement and the meaningful exchange of ideas. Thank you for making the Vicenza Course a space where new ideas in AKI diagnostics can truly take shape.

05/06/2025

SphingoTec is represented this year at the ERA Congress in Vienna by Dr. Florian Uhle, with penKid featured in the central AKI session. The integration of functional biomarkers into clinical practice—especially in critical care settings—remains a key focus for improving early detection and management of acute kidney injury.

PenKid supports clinicians by providing timely, actionable insights that can inform patient care decisions in nephrology and intensive care. We are proud to be part of this year’s ERA program and look forward to ongoing collaboration with the nephrology community to further the understanding and application of innovative biomarkers in clinical practice.

22/05/2025

It’s a wrap from Brussels!

The SphingoTec team, represented by Deborah Bergmann and Mohamed El Ebiary, had the privilege of engaging in many insightful discussions with industry leaders and innovators.

Our focus: supporting the translation of diagnostic innovation into routine critical care practice. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and vision—collaboration is key to advancing patient outcomes.

Looking forward to building on these connections and driving meaningful change in critical care diagnostics!

16/04/2025

SphingoTec announces the publication of real-world data on the effectiveness of Proenkephalin A 119–159 (penKid) in improving kidney function assessment in intensive care units (ICUs). This study confirms penKid's value in identifying high-risk patients at admission and supporting the management of renal replacement therapy. The published data complement a recent review from the Mayo Clinic that highlights penKid's potential as a new method to measure renal function beyond creatinine.

▶️Clinical Significance
Prof. Dr. Gernot Marx, the Director of the Clinic for Operative Intensive Care and Intermediate Care at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen highlights, "After using penKid in clinical settings for five years, I see significant value in specific use cases due to its swift dynamics, addressing creatinine blind spots. The published data confirms our clinical observations and paves the way for bringing innovation into daily practice." Early detection of compromised renal function could allow for timely interventions, reducing the risk of emergency RRT and improving the chance for full renal recovery. In RRT scenarios, penKid could help de-escalate treatments and prevent unnecessary RRT, potentially reducing ICU stays.
Read here the full press release https://ow.ly/pScw50VAFbP

18/03/2025

We're excited to join forces with Boditech Med at the 44th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine ( ) in Brussels! Our experts, Florian Uhle and Michal Bagrowski, will be supporting Boditech at booth #2.23, where they will showcase the AFIAS sphingotest® penKid® assay.

Through our partnership with Boditech, we're delighted to see penKid now commercially available on the AFIAS platform, providing healthcare professionals with a valuable tool for kidney health assessment. We're committed to supporting Boditech as a license partner, dedicating our expertise to help bring innovative diagnostic solutions closer to clinical practice and improve patient care.

Join us to explore how penKid and other advanced diagnostic solutions are optimizing ICU workflows and improving patient outcomes. We look forward to connecting with you in Brussels!

18/03/2025

Building Strategic Partnerships at BIO-Europe Spring 🌟
As the life sciences community converges in Milan, we're excited to connect with innovators and leaders at BIO-Europe Spring 2025. Mohammed el Ebiary is representing SphingoTec, engaging with key stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Our focus is on working together with like-minded organizations to drive advancements in healthcare. This includes out-licensing our innovative biomarkers and collaborating with forward-thinking companies to address critical conditions such as acute kidney injury ( ), and other complex challenges. By combining expertise and resources, we aim to create solutions that improve patient outcomes.
Join us in Milan for an insightful experience at BIO-Europe Spring!

09/01/2025

SphingoTec announces results from the first prospective , conducted at the Medical University of Vienna, demonstrating as a discriminatory biomarker for successful liberation from in surgery patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Key Findings:
➡️The study revealed that patients successfully liberated from CRRT had significantly lower penKid levels compared to those unsuccessfully liberated.
➡️This distinction was particularly notable at the time of CRRT liberation.

Read more in the press release: https://sphingotec.com/news/detail/assessing-post-cardiac-surgery-kidney-recovery-through-penkids-emerging-role-in-renal-replacement-therapy-decisions