Transdermal GFR Article Recognized as One of Five 2025 Editors' Choice Articles by Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN)
MWN-AI** Summary
MediBeacon Inc., which INNOVATE Corp. has a significant equity stake in, has garnered attention in the medical community after its peer-reviewed article on the transdermal measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) was recognized as one of the top five Editor’s Choice articles for 2025 by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The article, published in August 2025, highlights the potential of the MediBeacon® TGFR™ System, a groundbreaking non-invasive method for assessing kidney function.
The TGFR System combines a fluorescent tracer agent, Lumitrace® (relmapirazin), with a reusable sensor and monitoring device to assess kidney performance by measuring how quickly the agent is cleared from the body. Dr. Steve Miller, Chief Medical Officer of MediBeacon, emphasized the significance of this innovation, particularly against the constraints of current GFR estimations used in clinical practice.
The system is positioned for early adoption within selected academic medical centers as part of a strategic commercial rollout starting January 2026, with applications targeting heart failure monitoring, transplant evaluation, and oncology drug dosing. MediBeacon's CEO, Steven Hanley, expressed excitement over the recognition by JASN, indicating confidence that the transdermal GFR measurement could redefine standard kidney function assessments and provide substantial clinical value.
With over 250 patents globally, MediBeacon continues to push boundaries in the medical tech space, with further potential applications in various fields such as gastroenterology and surgery. As the healthcare landscape evolves, the implementation of innovative technologies like the TGFR System could significantly enhance patient care and clinical practices in nephrology and related disciplines.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent recognition of MediBeacon's transdermal GFR (tGFR) system as one of the Editor's Choice articles by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reflects a significant advancement in kidney function assessment technology. With its first-in-kind approach that offers point-of-care evaluations, the TGFR™ System promises to address existing challenges in the measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that are vital for the management of kidney health.
Investors should take note of the implications this technology has for INNOVATE Corp. (NYSE: VATE), in which MediBeacon is a significant subsidiary. The establishment of Centers of Excellence for commercialization set to begin in January 2026 is anticipated to drive early commercial adoption across various high-value medical applications, including heart failure monitoring and oncology drug dosing.
The medical community's positive reception of the TGFR™ System indicates a potential paradigm shift in nephrology practice. Traditional methods of measuring GFR, particularly estimated GFR, have limitations that the tGFR aims to overcome. Given the increasing prevalence of kidney-related issues among aging populations, the demand for accurate and efficient kidney function assessments is only set to grow.
As MediBeacon's technology looks to capitalize on unmet clinical needs, investors might assess the potential for revenue growth and market expansion. However, it’s crucial to remain cognizant of the risks mentioned in INNOVATE's forward-looking statements—particularly regarding product adoption and the competitive landscape in medical technology.
Overall, those looking to invest should consider MediBeacon's innovative approach combined with INNOVATE’s strategic focus on stakeholder capitalism as indicators of a potentially lucrative investment opportunity in the burgeoning life sciences sector.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
- MediBeacon® Transdermal GFR System is a first-in-kind product for point of care kidney function assessment
- Centers of Excellence commercialization in select academic medical centers began in January 2026
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INNOVATE Corp. (NYSE: VATE) (“INNOVATE” or the “Company”) announced today that MediBeacon Inc. (“MediBeacon”), a medical technology company specializing in the advancement of fluorescent tracer agents and their transdermal detection, in which INNOVATE owns a 44.7% equity interest, announced that the peer-reviewed transdermal GFR measurement article published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) has been recognized as one of five 2025 Editor’s Choice articles.1
The JASN editorial team selects five top articles each year which exemplify the highest potential to inform future research, change clinical practice, and/or guide public policy, particularly in the United States. The article was featured on the cover of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) in August 2025.2
The TGFR™ System is comprised of Lumitrace® (relmapirazin) injection, the TGFR™ Monitor and TGFR™ Reusable Sensor and enables the assessment of kidney function by measuring the clearance rate of the fluorescent agent as it leaves the body. The result is a transdermal assessment of Glomerular Filtration Rate or kidney function (tGFR).
“There is an acute need for improved GFR assessment at the point of care. Assessing the impact of physiologic changes or diseases on GFR in is of high potential clinical value. The limitations of estimated GFR (eGFR) are well known and existing measured GFR (mGFR) methodologies are not well suited to general clinical practice,” said Dr. Steve Miller, Chief Medical Officer for MediBeacon. “Many of the top institutions view transdermal GFR (tGFR) as a potential clinical practice game changer targeting a new standard of care for patients in numerous cases where the understanding of kidney function is fundamental.”
“We are excited about this recognition by American Society of Nephrology,” said Steven Hanley, CEO and Co-Founder of MediBeacon. “Our deployment of the TGFR System across key centers of excellence initially targets use in heart failure monitoring, transplant evaluation and oncology drug dosing. Our collaboration with the top hospitals globally demonstrates this focus to strategically drive early commercial adoption of our technology where it can rapidly be demonstrated to have high clinical value.”
About INNOVATE
INNOVATE Corp. is a portfolio of best-in-class assets in three key areas of the new economy – Infrastructure, Life Sciences and Spectrum. Dedicated to stakeholder capitalism, INNOVATE employs approximately 3,100 people across its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit: http://www.innovatecorp.com.
About MediBeacon Inc.
MediBeacon is a medical technology company specializing in the advancement of fluorescent tracer agents and their transdermal detection. MediBeacon’s use of proprietary fluorescent tracer agents coupled with transdermal detection technology focuses on providing vital and actionable measurement of organ function. MediBeacon owns over 55 granted U.S. patents and over 250 granted patents worldwide that provide extensive coverage of the MediBeacon® TGFR™ System, including Lumitrace® injection, the sensor and algorithms, as well as other strategic uses of its proprietary pyrazine platform and sensor technology. The TGFR System is approved for human use. Potential technology applications in gastroenterology, ophthalmology and surgery are in various stages of clinical development. MediBeacon is based in St. Louis, Missouri, with additional operations in Mannheim, Germany. For more information, please visit: www.medibeacon.com.
About Lumitrace® (relmapirazin) injection
Relmapirazin is a non-radioactive, non-iodinated pyrazine-based compound, which has been engineered to be inert, highly fluorescent, and have the clearance properties of a GFR tracer agent in the body. The unique photophysical characteristics of Lumitrace have been designed to enable the collection of fluorescence data via a photodetector sensor placed on the skin. Data collected by the sensor measures the change in the intensity of Lumitrace fluorescence over time and is converted into a transdermal GFR (tGFR) by proprietary algorithms. In a phase 2 investigational study mGFR deduced from Lumitrace matched that of mGFR deduced from iohexol over a range of GFR values. See the peer reviewed article published in the October 2024 issue of Kidney International by Dorshow et al.3
About MediBeacon® TGFR™ System
The MediBeacon® TGFR™ System is comprised of the TGFR™ Reusable Sensor, TGFR™ Monitor, TGFR™ Disposable Ring, and Lumitrace® (relmapirazin) injection, which together allow assessment of kidney function by measuring the clearance rate of the fluorescent agent as it leaves the body. The system records Lumitrace fluorescence intensity transdermally as a function of time via a sensor placed on the skin. The TGFR Reusable Sensor records 2.5 fluorescent readings per second and the TGFR Monitor will display the average session tGFR reading at the point of care.
FOR IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR THE TGFR SYSTEM (U.S. FDA) see ifu.medibeacon.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the market for the TGFR™. You are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that INNOVATE’s actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may change at any time. Factors that could cause INNOVATE’s actual expectations to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include risks associated with managing growth related to increased operational size, the misuse by customers, physicians and technicians of MediBeacon’s products, and the ability of MediBeacon to effectively protect its intellectual property and the impact of a failure to do so and the other factors under the heading “Risk Factors” set forth in INNOVATE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by INNOVATE’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings are available on our website or at www.sec.gov. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. INNOVATE undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent developments, events, or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Investor Contact:
Solebury Strategic Communications
Anthony Rozmus
(212) 235-2691
Email: ir@innovatecorp.com
1 https://journals.lww.com/jasn/Pages/JASN_Recognizes.aspx#EditorsChoiceArticles
2 Glomerular Filtrate Rate Measurement Utilizing Transdermal Detection Methodology; Dorshow, Richard B., Debreczeny, Martin P.; Goldstein, Stuart L.; Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 36(8):p 1592-1602, August 2025. DOI: 10.1681/ASN 0000000639
3 Clinical validation of the novel fluorescent glomerular filtration rate tracer agent relmapirazin (MB-102), Kidney International, Volume 106, Issue 4, P679-687, October 2024, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.06.012
FAQ**
How does INNOVATE Corp. VATE plan to leverage its 44.7% equity interest in MediBeacon to enhance commercial adoption of the TGFR System in key centers of excellence, particularly in light of its recent recognition by the American Society of Nephrology?
What strategies will INNOVATE Corp. VATE implement to address potential risks associated with managing growth as the TGFR System moves into wider clinical practice and adoption in academic medical centers?
Given the editorial recognition of the TGFR System’s peer-reviewed article, how does INNOVATE Corp. VATE envision influencing clinical practices around kidney function assessment in the U.S. and globally?
In what ways is INNOVATE Corp. VATE positioning the TGFR System as a potential new standard of care in heart failure monitoring and oncology drug dosing, considering existing limitations of current GFR assessment methodologies?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about INNOVATE Corp. (NYSE: VATE).
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