AstraZeneca and Aptar team up on AI for early CKD detection

UK – AstraZeneca has partnered with Aptar to advance the early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) using artificial intelligence.

This collaboration aims to create digital tools that can help identify CKD, as well as related cardiovascular, metabolic, and kidney conditions, before symptoms become severe.

At the heart of the partnership is a set of AI algorithms developed by AstraZeneca. These tools are designed to analyze eye exam data to detect signs of CKD, similar to how retinal screenings can signal diabetes.

Aptar will now explore how these algorithms can be integrated into clinical practice to support early screening and diagnosis.

This move supports AstraZeneca’s broader strategy in kidney care, anchored by its flagship medicine Farxiga (also marketed as Forxiga).

Farxiga was the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved to treat CKD and is being tested in combination with other potential treatments, including baxdrostat, balcinrenone, and zibotentan.

CKD is often called a “silent killer” because it typically shows no symptoms until its later stages. It affects around 8% to 16% of the global population and is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2040.

With diagnosis often coming too late, the demand for better, earlier screening solutions is urgent.

In addition to this partnership, AstraZeneca has been working with other digital health innovators.

In Taiwan, it teamed up with Health2Sync to create CKD patient management tools that monitor lab results and symptom progression.

Another project with HealthShare involves a digital questionnaire used before doctor consultations, designed to help identify patients at risk.

AstraZeneca is also using a device from ImpediMed in its CKD clinical trials. This tool uses bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) to measure body fluid levels and tissue composition in under 30 seconds, offering quick insights into a patient’s health.

Aptar Digital Health, a division of Aptar Pharma, entered the digital space by acquiring companies like Cohero and Voluntis.

Since then, it has developed digital health platforms for chronic conditions such as asthma and COPD.

The new partnership with AstraZeneca expands its work into kidney health, with the goal of using digital diagnostics to find disease earlier and connect patients to the care they need faster.

“This collaboration allows us to explore new ways to use digital health technology to detect diseases earlier and improve patient outcomes,” said Gael Touya, President of Aptar Pharma.