Renalytix PLC (AIM:RENX) shares ramped 7.5% higher to 128.95p on Friday morning after it announced a distribution agreement for its kidneyintelX.dkd with Vector Pharma for the Middle East, a region that it notes has one of the highest incidence rates for type 2 diabetes globally.
Commercial availability of kidneyintelX.dkd testing will be expanded to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates through the distribution agreement.
"As in the United States, patient care for early-stage diabetes and kidney disease is in the hands of primary care clinicians," said Renalytix president Tom McLain.
"Traditional laboratory distributors do not call on primary care practices. Our partnership with Vector Pharma, a pharmaceutical distributor with proven access and contacts in primary care, will accelerate efforts to introduce kidneyintelX.dkd and expand test adoption."
Vector Pharma boss Patrick Jordan said markets in the Middle East are experiencing high rates of diabetes and chronic kidney disease, so diabetic kidney disease management "has become a core tenet of many ministries of health in the Gulf Cooperation Council".