Precision in hypertension therapy - aTENSION.life raises USD 3M in seed financing to bring precision diagnostics to 1.3 billion hypertensive patients
aTENSION.life, a high-tech life science startup, launches today with the vision to transform hypertension treatment through innovative diagnostics, utilizing its proprietary ALDO+ technology platform. This technology precisely screens for potential underlying causes of uncontrolled hypertension, thus allowing for an early, accurate, and patient-tailored treatment regimen. Originally developed under Covirabio, aTENSION.life now brings this cutting-edge technology to the forefront of patient care.
“With about 1.3 billion adults affected by hypertension and 720 million not receiving the treatment they need, we address a vast and urgent market. The lack of robust, accessible diagnostics for widely underdiagnosed hypertension subtypes presents a significant opportunity for disruption and our precision diagnostic solutions are poised to fill this gap. Backed by a new group of specialized investors, our repositioned company is ready to Precision in Hypertension Brehmstraße 14a, 1110 Vienna, Austria www.aTENSION.life become a global player in hypertension diagnostics”, states Co-Founder and CEO, Bernhard Klemen.
aTENSION.life has closed a USD 3 million seed round, with Wlanholding leading, eQventure and VP Venture Partners co-leading the consortium. Werner Lanthaler has been appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “Every hypertension patient deserves an early and precise diagnosis leading to a targeted treatment. This funding brings us one step closer in making clinical mass spectrometry diagnostics available to everyone”, states Werner Lanthaler, CEO of Wlanholding and Chairman of aTENSION.life.
The first test resulting from the platform, ALDO+PA, is available in Austria through a partnership with labors.at as of today and focuses on primary aldosteronism case detection among uncontrolled hypertensive patients. Products of the ALDO+ technology will be launched across DACH markets by 2026, with first customers already successfully implementing the technology in Germany, Switzerland, as well as in the US.
Introducing ALDO+PA to screen for primary aldosteronism
Hypertension often remains undetected, and secondary forms like primary aldosteronism (PA) frequently remain undiagnosed due to low screening rates of only 1-2%. Current testing methods using traditional ELISA-based assays suffer from variability and drug interference, forcing clinicians into a trial-and-error approach, often without identifying the underlying molecular causes. This delays blood pressure control, leads to inappropriate medication, and increases the risk of cardiovascular complications such as stroke and heart failure.
To address this, aTENSION.life introduces ALDO+PA, the first product from its ALDO+ technology platform – a CE-IVD certified, and guideline-compatible test based on mass spectrometry designed to screen patients with uncontrolled hypertension for primary aldosteronism, ensuring early and accurate diagnosis.
“Our ALDO+PA test is addressing a huge unmet clinical need. 5-10% of all hypertensive patients suffer from primary aldosteronism, which is underdiagnosed due to limited diagnostic tools and thus inadequately treated”, explains Marko Poglitsch, CSO, Co-founder, and inventor of the underlying technology. Worldwide, this is the first diagnostic test directly measuring Angiotensin II and Aldosterone, two key blood pressure regulators and antihypertensive drug targets in a single, clinically validated mass spectrometry assay. Besides the accurate screening result for primary aldosteronism without the need to stop ongoing medications, the test provides further insights on anti-hypertensive drug efficacy and specific renal functions, being highly relevant for the diagnostic workup of uncontrolled hypertension in clinical routine.
“ALDO+PA is just the first breakthrough of our promising ALDO+ technology, already redefining clinical hypertension care. Our extensive clinical research has demonstrated the potential of our ALDO+ technology far beyond PA screening”, adds Marko Poglitsch.
Key benefits of ALDO+PA:
For Patients:
Early and accurate diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism, allowing for tailored and effective treatments, reducing the risks of stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular complications.
For Doctors:
Reliable and guideline-compatible detection of primary aldosteronism without interrupting ongoing medications. Direct and robust measurement of the blood pressure hormones Angiotensin II and Aldosterone using mass spectrometry alongside insights on antihypertensive drug efficacy and specific renal functions.
For Laboratories:
Highly attractive partnership models for laboratories, regardless of their LC-MS capabilities - expanding their client base by making cutting-edge precision diagnostics broadly available.
Contact
Mag. Katharina Wieser
Chief Business Officer
Brehmstrasse 14a, 1100 Vienna
+43 676 96 330 45
Katharina.wieser@atension.life