PromarkerD Predicts Diabetic Kidney Disease with Over 85% Accuracy in Aboriginal Patients
Proteomics International's PromarkerD blood test shows clinically meaningful accuracy in predicting diabetic kidney disease among Aboriginal Australians, matching performance in non-Indigenous populations. This advancement offers a promising tool for early intervention in a high-risk group.
- PromarkerD predicts diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with high accuracy in Aboriginal Australians
- No significant difference in test performance between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants
- High negative predictive value (>85%) supports effective ruling out of medium-term kidney decline
- Study involved 1,081 adults including 71 Aboriginal participants from Fremantle Diabetes Study
- Next-generation PromarkerD test now available to type 2 diabetes patients in Australia
A Breakthrough in Predictive Diagnostics for High-Risk Populations
Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd (ASX – PIQ) has announced compelling new clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of its PromarkerD blood test in predicting diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among Aboriginal Australians. This population faces one of the highest global burdens of diabetes-related kidney complications, making early detection tools critically important.
The peer-reviewed study, recently published in the Internal Medicine Journal, analyzed data from over a thousand adults with diabetes, including 71 Aboriginal participants. The findings reveal that PromarkerD’s predictive accuracy in Aboriginal Australians is comparable to that in non-Indigenous Australians, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71 versus 0.89 respectively; a difference that was not statistically significant.
Clinical Significance and Healthcare Implications
One of the most notable outcomes is the test’s high negative predictive value exceeding 85%. This means that individuals with a low PromarkerD score are very unlikely to experience kidney function decline in the medium term, enabling clinicians to confidently rule out risk and focus resources on patients who need intervention most urgently.
Given that Aboriginal Australians suffer from DKD at rates approximately seven times higher than non-Indigenous Australians, the availability of a reliable prognostic tool represents a significant step forward. Early identification can lead to tailored treatment plans, potentially slowing disease progression and reducing the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Next Steps and Market Availability
The next-generation PromarkerD test is now accessible to type 2 diabetes patients across Australia through multiple healthcare channels. Proteomics International’s Managing Director, Dr Richard Lipscombe, emphasized the urgent need for validated diagnostic tools in Aboriginal communities, where diabetes and kidney disease onset occurs earlier and progresses faster.
Professor Tim Davis of The University of Western Australia highlighted the test’s potential to improve chronic disease management in remote and regional Aboriginal communities by enabling earlier, more accurate risk stratification.
While the study sample for Aboriginal participants was relatively small, these promising results pave the way for broader clinical adoption and further research. Proteomics International continues to position PromarkerD at the forefront of precision diagnostics, aiming to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations through innovative biomarker technology.
Bottom Line?
PromarkerD’s validation in Aboriginal Australians marks a critical advance in precision diagnostics, setting the stage for improved kidney disease management in a high-risk group.
Questions in the middle?
- Will larger-scale studies confirm PromarkerD’s predictive accuracy across diverse Aboriginal communities?
- How quickly will healthcare providers integrate PromarkerD testing into routine diabetes management?
- What regulatory or reimbursement hurdles remain for widespread adoption of PromarkerD in Australia?
