SphingoTec GmbH
German diagnostics company developing proprietary blood-based protein biomarkers for acute and critical care conditions such as acute kidney injury, sepsis, and acute heart failure.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
SphingoTec GmbH is a privately held German diagnostics company based in Hennigsdorf, Germany, focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel blood-based protein biomarkers for acute and critical care medicine. The company describes its mission as improving patient outcomes with innovative diagnostic solutions for acute and critical care, delivering actionable insights in real time. Its biomarker programs target diagnostically underserved conditions including acute kidney injury (AKI), sepsis, and acute heart failure. SphingoTec's two flagship biomarkers are penKid (proenkephalin A 119–159), a kidney function biomarker, and bio-ADM (bioactive adrenomedullin 1–52), an endothelial function biomarker. These biomarkers are intended to address well-known limitations of standard-of-care diagnostics — for example, providing timely information on kidney function to support early initiation and adaptation of renal replacement therapy and nephro-protective strategies, and detecting endothelial dysfunction that underlies edema, shock, and related complications in sepsis and acute heart failure. The company commercializes its technology through two main channels. First, it develops proprietary biomarker assays in-house, available for research use only (RUO), including microtiter plate assays based on chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay technology and an ELISA format for penKid. Second, it pursues biomarker out-licensing, partnering with global in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) companies that in-license SphingoTec's biomarkers to enrich their immunoassay portfolios and make certified IVD products available for clinical diagnostics worldwide. SphingoTec also engages in pharma collaborations, positioning its biomarkers as tools for enrichment and increased efficacy strategies in critical care drug discovery to help de-risk drug development. SphingoTec presents itself as bridging science and patient care for acute challenges, translating scientific advancements into routine clinical practice. Its proprietary assays are designed for research and translational studies, while clinical availability is achieved through licensing partners' regulatory-compliant assays on a broad menu of diagnostic platforms. The company is headquartered at Neuendorfstr. 15A, 16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany, and maintains a contact presence through its website sphingotec.eu.
History
SphingoTec GmbH is a German diagnostics company headquartered in Hennigsdorf, Germany. Publicly available information about the company is primarily provided through its own corporate website and a Wikidata entry describing it as a company in Hennigsdorf, Germany. The company presents itself as having a long history of biomarker discovery, development, and validation, and as a privately held enterprise. SphingoTec's work centers on novel and proprietary blood-based protein biomarkers intended for acute and critical care settings. Its stated aspiration is to translate scientific advancements into routine clinical practice, addressing diagnostically underserved conditions such as acute kidney injury, sepsis, and acute heart failure. The company's mission is to improve patient outcomes with innovative diagnostic solutions for acute and critical care, providing actionable insights in real time. A central element of SphingoTec's history is the development and validation of its two flagship biomarkers: penKid (proenkephalin A 119–159), positioned as a kidney function biomarker, and bio-ADM (bioactive adrenomedullin 1–52), positioned as an endothelial function biomarker. These biomarkers are designed to overcome limitations of standard-of-care diagnostics — for example, penKid aims to provide timely information on kidney function to support early initiation and adaptation of renal replacement therapy and nephro-protective strategies, while bio-ADM targets endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of conditions such as sepsis and acute heart failure that leads to edema, shock, and subsequent organ complications. SphingoTec has built a dual commercialization model. It develops proprietary biomarker assays in-house, available for research use only, including microtiter plate assays based on chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay technology and an ELISA format for penKid (ELISA sphingotest® penKid®) designed to closely match the performance of its chemiluminescence reference assay while allowing use on standard laboratory photometers. In parallel, the company pursues biomarker out-licensing, partnering with global IVD companies that in-license its biomarkers to enrich their immunoassay portfolios and make certified IVD products available for clinical diagnostics worldwide. SphingoTec also engages in pharma collaborations, offering its biomarkers as solutions for enrichment and increased efficacy strategies in critical care drug discovery to help de-risk drug development. Recent activity highlighted by the company includes real-world data on penKid. In a prospective, real-world study of 1,436 critically ill ICU patients, penKid provided clinically relevant information across AKI severity and during kidney replacement therapy, identifying with greater precision than standard biomarkers patients at high risk of KRT liberation failure — findings the company says support a future role for penKid in helping standardize decision support in intensive care. The company continues to operate from its Hennigsdorf headquarters and to promote its biomarker portfolio through its website, sphingotec.eu.
SphingoTec develops and validates proprietary blood-based protein biomarkers for acute and critical care, including penKid and bio-ADM.
Company offers proprietary biomarker assays in-house for research use only, including microtiter plate chemiluminescence assays and an ELISA format for penKid.
SphingoTec pursues biomarker out-licensing with global IVD companies to make certified IVD products available for clinical diagnostics worldwide.
Company engages in pharma collaborations to support critical care drug discovery and de-risk drug development.
New real-world data from a prospective study of 1,436 critically ill ICU patients show penKid adding decision support for kidney replacement therapy in critical care.
Products and positioning
Developer of first-in-class proprietary blood-based protein biomarkers for diagnostically underserved acute and critical care conditions, commercialized through in-house RUO assays and out-licensing to global IVD partners.
ELISA sphingotest® penKid®
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantification of human Proenkephalin A 119-159 in plasma. Assay type: ELISA; format: one-step; plate type: 1x96 well plate; product status: RUO; sample type: EDTA plasma, heparin plasma; sample volume: 50 µL; measuring unit: pmol/L; measuring range: 10 - 1,000 pmol/L; assay incubation time: 2.5 hours; LoQ: 10.2 pmol/L (20% Total CV); LoD: 8.9 pmol/L; no high-dose hook effect up to 10,000 pmol/L; detection method: colorimetry (450 nm, reference 570 nm); storage: 2-8°C.
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) reference assays
SphingoTec's reference assays based on acridinium ester chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay technology, enabling quantitative measurement of proprietary biomarkers Proenkephalin A 119–159 (penKid) and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1–52 (bio-ADM).
Microtiter plate assays
High-throughput microtiter plate assays based on chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay technology, allowing measurement of 41 patient samples at once.
Recent events
Sphingotec appoints Achim Plum as managing director and CCO[6]
Reported:
Sphingotec announced that it appointed Dr. Achim Plum as managing director and chief commercial officer.
Sources6 sources
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