Memo Therapeutics publishes study on BK viruses in kidney transplant patients

(CONNECT) The biotech company Memo Therapeutics has collaborated with Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, to conduct a study on the impact of BK viruses on the quality of life of kidney transplant patients. According to a press release, the experiences of twelve affected people were recorded. This qualitative study was published in the "Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes".

The study looked at physical and other life impairments, emotional stress and patients' interactions with the healthcare system. The aim was to improve patient care and information prior to surgery. In addition to better disease management, the study should also lead to better socio-psychological support.

"Understanding the impact of the BK polyomavirus on the daily lives of kidney transplant patients helps us identify areas where we can better support patients during their treatment," Courtney Hurt, senior project manager at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, is quoted as saying in the press release. "This conceptual model forms the basis for the development of patient-reported outcome measures that truly reflect what is important to kidney transplant patients." CMO Jürgen Beck is convinced that the study is "a decisive step towards improving treatment results and quality of life".

The drug potravitug developed by Memo Therapeutics was designated an orphan drug by the EU in December 2025 for the treatment of rare diseases. Potravitug had already been granted fast-track status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023. The drug, a human monoclonal antibody, is aimed at combating the BK polyomavirus, particularly in kidney transplant patients.

Memo Therapeutics is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and is based in the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich. ce/ww