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Proton Intelligence, a company specializing in continuous biomarker monitoring, has secured $6.95 million in funding to advance its continuous potassium monitoring (CKM) platform. The platform aims to address the gap in managing electrolyte levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically targeting the regulation of potassium. This is crucial since uncontrolled potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, can lead to heart attacks and even death, particularly in elderly CKD patients.
Hyperkalemia affects over 3.7 million Americans and is a leading cause of cardiac arrest. Without reliable potassium data, doctors often stop essential treatments, worsening patient outcomes. Proton’s CKM platform provides continuous, real-time potassium monitoring, which could help doctors make better decisions and avoid discontinuing important therapies.
Currently, CKD patients rely on periodic lab visits to monitor potassium levels, unlike diabetic patients who have continuous glucose monitoring tools. Proton’s technology, still in early clinical trials, aims to close this gap, allowing for better management of potassium fluctuations in CKD patients. These trials are being conducted with patients who have severe kidney impairment, such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or advanced CKD.
The trials hope that continuous monitoring can reduce hospitalizations, improve clinical results, and lower healthcare costs for CKD patients. Proton plans to conduct a pivotal study in 2026 to assess the platform’s broader impact. This research has the potential to change how CKD and hyperkalemia are treated in the future.
The new funding will support Proton’s upcoming feasibility trials, moving the technology closer to benefiting millions of patients. The funding round includes investors such as SOSV, We Venture Capital, and Tenmile.
Proton’s continuous potassium monitoring would improve decision-making for patients with late-stage kidney disease or on dialysis, ultimately saving healthcare systems money and improving patient outcomes.
