Evotec SE announced its participation in the NURTuRE-AKI consortium, a groundbreaking research initiative designed to establish the world's most comprehensive patient cohort for acute kidney injury (AKI) research. The partnership positions Evotec to leverage multi-omics data for targeted drug discovery in a therapeutic area with significant unmet medical need.
Comprehensive Patient Cohort Design
The NURTuRE-AKI study will collect longitudinal data and biological samples from 950 patients across three distinct cohorts over a three-year period. The first cohort comprises 400 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, where AKI incidence risk reaches approximately 30%. The second cohort includes 150 pediatric cardiac surgery patients, while the third focuses on 400 adult patients experiencing persistent renal decline indicating AKI-to-CKD progression.
Blood, urine, and research biopsy samples will undergo state-of-the-art omics analyses, with data collection occurring at multiple time points for each patient. The study will operate through 13 NHS Trusts, with patients followed at specific intervals to capture disease progression patterns.
Strategic Integration with Evotec's Platform
The NURTuRE-AKI data will integrate into Evotec's Molecular Patient Database (E.MPD), a repository containing high-quality multi-omics data and detailed clinical records. This integration will enhance Evotec's capabilities in precision medicine and drug discovery programs across its therapeutic focus areas.
"NURTuRE-AKI will unlock the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers based on comprehensive molecular and clinical patient data," said Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec. "This will accelerate the development of targeted therapies for a disease with a high unmet medical need, providing immense benefits for millions of patients worldwide."
Addressing Critical Medical Need
AKI represents a sudden decline in kidney function associated with increased mortality risk and serves as a leading cause of chronic kidney disease. Major triggers include blood pressure alterations and contrast agent use during cardiac surgeries. Currently, no preventive or therapeutic treatments exist for AKI, highlighting the critical need for innovative therapeutic approaches.
The global burden is substantial, with approximately 2 million open-heart surgeries performed annually worldwide, creating a significant at-risk population for AKI development.
Multi-Partner Collaboration
The consortium brings together industry and academic expertise, with funding provided by Evotec, AstraZeneca, Nephrolyx, and Kidney Research UK. The core academic team includes experts from Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, University of Bristol, and University Hospital Birmingham, overseeing operational delivery.
Elaine Davies, Director of Research Operations at Kidney Research UK, emphasized the initiative's potential: "We are already seeing important new findings from the initial NURTuRE CKD and INS cohorts and are confident that this venture has similarly great potential to change diagnosis and care for kidney disease patients."
Expanding Research Infrastructure
NURTuRE-AKI builds upon the existing NURTuRE biobank, which already houses samples and data from 3,000 individuals with chronic kidney disease and 740 with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. The addition of AKI-focused cohorts will create a comprehensive resource for kidney disease research, enhanced by linked clinical data through the UK Renal Registry.
The initiative represents a significant expansion of Evotec's kidney disease research capabilities, supporting the company's broader strategy in precision medicine and targeted therapeutic development across multiple disease areas.
