IDEXX Labs. Announces Renal Biomarker SDMA For Diagnosis In Cats, Dogs

(RTTNews) - IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (IDXX) announced an upcoming kidney test, called SDMA, promising to transform the way veterinarians diagnose and treat kidney disease in cats and dogs.

The company said the new renal biomarker identifies the onset of kidney disease months or even years earlier than traditional methods, greatly expanding treatment options.

Chronic kidney disease or CKD is a progressive, permanent loss of kidney function over time, and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cats and dogs. Veterinarians appreciate the relevance of kidney disease because in time, one in three cats and one in ten dogs will develop some form of the disease, the company noted.

Current diagnostic methods to detect and diagnose CKD, including standard chemistry tests, typically fail to detect the disease until 75% of kidney function has been irreparably lost, limiting treatment options and presenting a poor prognosis for the pet and to the pet owner.

According to the company, the new IDEXX SDMA test has been shown to detect kidney disease when only 40 percent function has been lost, on average, and in some cases even earlier -- results that have been validated in third party peer reviewed studies. Earlier detection allows veterinarians to provide more effective intervention, including prescription of therapeutic diets, renal protective drugs, and avoidance of renal toxic drugs. A treatment plan might add months or even years to pet lives.

IDEXX said it plans to include the SDMA kidney test in all routine reference lab chemistry profiles at no additional cost to the customer.