Kite Medical diagnoses kidney reflux in kids

Kite Medical is developing a non-invasive diagnostic solution for kidney reflux in children that removes the need for complicated procedures

Sarah Loughney is the bioengineer that developed the wearable solution and according to the Irish Times became familiar with difficulties surrounding the diagnosis of kidney reflux while participating in the Enterprise Ireland-backed BioInnovate Fellowship programme in 2012. This programme encourages participants to develop medical innovations to meet identified clinical needs.

Loughney said to the newspaper: “Diagnosing kidney reflux is traumatic and involves a lot of discomfort for the child.

“I saw the difficulties for young patients during the diagnostic procedure at first hand and believed that there was potential to greatly reduce the trauma and pain experienced.

“Our technology is based around a belt-like device the child wears. Our aim is to encourage screening for the condition, as by screening the children at risk early detection of clinically-significant cases is greatly improved.”

A new company, Kite Medical is being set up by Loughney in the next few months in order to commercialise the product.

Loughney continued: “We estimate the market for the device at around $550 million based on the number of children currently referred for investigation for kidney reflux in Europe and the US.

“Our target market is all points of presentation to the health system for children with urinary tract infections from outpatient family medicine and paediatrics to hospital-based emergency and inpatient services.”

With the product almost market-ready the next phase will be on clinical trials and jumping through the hoops for regulatory approval in the US and Europe with Loughney hoping to launch the product in 2018, the Irish Times reported.