Alliance for Test to Detect Early Kidney Disease

(Santa Monica, CA, USA) and Esoterix, Inc. (also in Santa Monica).

Upon obtaining clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc. will provide Esoterix with a quantitative urinary albumin test for detection of early kidney disease. AusAm is engaged in the development of urine-based diagnostic tests for a wide variety of diseases. Recent research has uncovered a form of intact albumin that may provide an early indication of kidney disease. The company says its test may allow doctors to diagnose the onset of kidney disease earlier and with greater accuracy than is currently possible. Microalbuminuria testing has emerged as one way to lower medical costs while improving patient outcomes.

"The agreement with AusAm furthers our initiatives to expand Esoterix's involvement in developing for the market highly specific assays in endocrinology,” said Dr. Greg Stelzer, chief scientific officer of Esoterix, Inc.