Healthy.io and Boehringer Ingelheim Launch At-Home CKD Testing to Aid Early Detection and Management

Healthy.io, a pioneer in converting smartphone cameras into medical devices, has announced a partnership with pharmaceutical leader Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to support at-home testing and education for patients at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The collaboration involves using Healthy.io's Minuteful Kidney™ test kit, the first FDA-cleared, smartphone-enabled at-home ACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio) test, to reach at-risk, previously untested patients. The Minuteful Kidney test kit helps increase ACR testing on a large scale and supports the early detection of CKD, according to Paula LeClair, U.S. General Manager at Healthy.io. Boosting test-adherence rates across various demographics and socio-economic groups leads to earlier CKD detection and improved patient care, resulting in better health outcomes and potentially reduced healthcare costs. Lennart Jungersten, Senior Vice President of Medicine and Regulatory Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, emphasizes the importance of early screening and diagnosis in delaying CKD progression and reducing the risk of severe complications. The collaboration with Healthy.io aims to increase CKD testing, allowing those affected to receive appropriate care management. CKD, often referred to as a "silent killer," affects one in three Americans, particularly those with diabetes and hypertension. Most people are unaware of their condition until it progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. Although guidelines recommend annual UACR tests for at-risk individuals, 80% do not complete the test. Previous Healthy.io programs have demonstrated that at-home testing with Minuteful Kidney increased testing adherence by up to 50% across untested populations, regardless of demographic and socioeconomic differences.