#United States #Winston-Salem #Transplantation #OrganBank #Kidney

BMI OrganBank Showcases Innovative Kidney Preservation Technology

In a remarkable advancement for kidney transplantation, BMI OrganBank® introduced its innovative OrganBank Kidney® platform at the 2026 American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) Winter Symposium. The company, specializing in organ preservation and assessment systems, revealed preclinical data highlighting the potential of its new approach using a unique bloodless, oxygenated, pulsatile room-temperature machine perfusion technology.

The presentation delivered by Dr. Nader Abraham, Vice President of Research at BMI OrganBank and a resident at Duke University, provided compelling evidence regarding the effectiveness of the OrganBank Kidney platform compared to the currently accepted method of hypothermic machine preservation. In a study involving an established porcine kidney auto-transplant model, delayed graft function—a critical complication where a transplanted kidney fails to function adequately—was reduced significantly. While 40% of kidneys preserved via traditional hypothermic unoxygenated methods experienced delayed graft function, none in the OrganBank group did. This outcome signifies a notable advancement in ensuring immediate graft performance post-transplantation.

Delayed graft function remains a notable challenge in the realm of kidney transplants, often leading to extended hospital stays, greater healthcare expenses, and decreased long-term patient outcomes. Dr. Abraham emphasized that their preclinical findings indicate the potential of room-temperature oxygenated perfusion to bridge the gap between the advantages of normothermic machine perfusion and the cost-effectiveness of traditional cold preservation techniques. He elaborated that this innovative perfusion method could sustain a unique metabolic rate conducive for organ assessment without necessitating an oxygen carrier, enhancing the viability of the preserved organs.

Adding further weight to the presentation, Dr. Andrew Barbas, Associate Professor of Surgery and Principal Investigator at Duke's Ex-Vivo Organ Lab, noted that the findings underscore the need to address the limitations of standard cold preservation techniques. By keeping kidneys in a more physiologically active state, this approach may contribute to better early graft function and improved pre-transplant evaluations, broadening the horizon for organ utilization in transplantation.

The significance of these results builds upon prior evidence that had already garnered FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for BMI OrganBank's kidney preservation technology in July 2025. With these promising findings, BMI OrganBank plans to embark on a clinical trial for its OrganBank Kidney platform later this year, potentially revolutionizing how donor kidneys are preserved and assessed before transplantation.

About the OrganBank Kidney Platform

The OrganBank Kidney device is designed to preserve donor kidneys at room temperature, utilizing an oxygenated, acellular solution while seamlessly integrating into existing transplant workflows. Besides organ preservation, the platform is tailored for real-time functional assessments of donor kidneys leading up to transplantation, signifying a leap forward in enhancing transplant success rates. As the OrganBank Kidney platform is still investigational, it has yet to receive clinical approval.

About BMI OrganBank

BMI OrganBank is dedicated to pioneering medical technology solutions aimed at refining organ preservation and assessment methodologies. By tackling time, data accuracy, and confidence hurdles inherent in the transplantation process, the company seeks to bolster organ utilization rates and patient outcomes across the transplant landscape. With a focus on physiological preservation and real-time insights, BMI OrganBank aims to make a significant impact in the field of transplantation.

This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements about the potential benefits and clinical implications of BMI OrganBank's technologies carry inherent risks and uncertainties that may lead to actual results differing materially from projected outcomes. BMI OrganBank does not commit to updating any forward-looking statements unless legally required.