Fresenius Medical Care : launches 4008A dialysis machine tailored to needs in emerging markets

DGAP-News: Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Fresenius Medical Care launches 4008A dialysis machine tailored to needs in emerging markets 18.01.2019 / 08:02 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest provider of dialysis products and services, today announced the launch of its 4008A dialysis machine, which was especially designed to meet the needs of emerging markets. With the launch of the 4008A, the company is aiming to improve accessibility to life-sustaining dialysis treatment for patients in these countries who are living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The 4008A dialysis machine incorporates Fresenius Medical Care's high therapy standards while minimizing costs for health care systems. It has primarily been deployed in India, with other countries across the Asia-Pacific region to follow. Worldwide, there is an urgent and growing need for patients with ESRD to receive access to dialysis. A systematic review of worldwide access to treatment estimated that almost two million people in Asia with ESRD who needed dialysis were not receiving it - a treatment gap that is double the number of patients actively being treated. Worldwide use of dialysis is projected to more than double by 2030, with the most growth in Asia, but the number of people without access to dialysis is expected to remain substantial.1 In response to this need, Fresenius Medical Care has developed the 4008A, which provides life-sustaining medical benefits and safety standards at a cost-effective price. Dr. Olaf Schermeier, Chief Executive Officer for Global Research and Development at Fresenius Medical Care, emphasized the importance of the 4008A launch: "Our global Research and Development team is in constant dialogue with physicians, nursing staff and patients. We put the benefit for our patients at the center of any new development. That is why we have developed this new high-quality dialysis platform that may allow for better cost effectiveness, and brought it to the market in record time." Harry de Wit, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care Asia-Pacific, said: "At Fresenius Medical Care, we are proud of the work we do every day to improve the lives of people living with chronic kidney disease. The launch of the 4008A is a demonstration of our continuing commitment to help ensure that life-changing dialysis is brought within reach of the increasing number of patients who need urgent access to this treatment." Importantly, the 4008A offers a high level of safety and handling standards, including essential cleaning functions and battery back-up. The machine is designed to be robust and easily handled, making it ideal for demanding infrastructure and remote locations. The use of ultrapure dialysis fluid is standard in all treatments with the 4008A machine. Evidence suggests that using ultrapure dialysis fluid provides significant medical benefits to patients - for example, through better preservation of residual renal function, which is the ability of the patient's own kidneys to eliminate water and uremic toxins.2 This has been shown to lower mortality and potentially improve quality of life in people with ESRD.3,4,5 In addition, the use of ultrapure dialysis fluid could also contribute to reduced inflammation for dialysis patients, potentially helping to reduce their cardiovascular risk and morbidity.6,7 The dialysis machine and the dialyzer are the two most important products in hemodialysis. While the dialyzer filters the patient's blood, the dialysis machine pumps it and monitors its circulation outside the body. The machine is also used to maintain the composition of the dialysis solution and introduce anticoagulants into the blood. Dialysis treatments generally last three to six hours, and are commonly carried out three times a week. More than half of all dialysis machines used worldwide are made by Fresenius Medical Care. References 1. Liyanage T et al. Worldwide access to treatment for end-stage kidney disease: a systematic review. www.thelancet.com Published online March 13, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61601-9. 2. Schiffl H et al. Ultrapure dialysis fluid slows loss of residual renal function in new dialysis patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002;17: 1814-1818. 3. Shafi T., Jaar B., Plantinga L. Association of Residual Urine Output With Mortality, Quality of Life, and Inflammation in Incident Hemodialysis Patients: The Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease (CHOICE) Study. Am J Kidney Dis 2010; 56:348-358. 4. Termorshuizen F., Dekker F.Van Manen J. Relative Contribution of Residual Renal Function and Different Measures of Adequacy to Survival in Hemodialysis Patients: An analysis of the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis (NECOSAD)-2. J Am Soc Nephrol 2004; 15: 1061-1070. 5. Obi Y., Rhee C., Mathew A. Residual Kidney Function Decline and Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 2016; 27: 3758-3768. 6. Sitter Tet al. Dialysate related cytokine induction and response to recombinant human erythropoietin in haemodialysis patients.Nephrol Dial Transplant 2000; 15: 2107-1211. 7. Lederer SR, Schiffl H. Ultrapure Dialysis Fluid Lowers the Cardiovascular Morbidity in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis by Reducing Continuous Microinflammation. Nephron 2002; 91: 452-455. Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which around 3.2 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. Through its network of 3,872 dialysis clinics, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatments for 329,085 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the leading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers. Along with its core business, the company provides related medical services in the field of Care Coordination. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME) and on the New York Stock Exchange (FMS). For more information visit the Company's website at www.freseniusmedicalcare.com. Disclaimer This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release. Contact: Dr. Dominik Heger SVP & Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications [e-mail] P. [phone] 18.01.2019 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de

Language:	English
Company:	Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA
	Else-Kröner-Straße 1
	61352 Bad Homburg
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Fax:	[phone]
E-mail:	[e-mail]
Internet:	www.freseniusmedicalcare.com
ISIN:	DE0005785802
WKN:	578580
Indices:	DAX
Listed:	Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; NYSE, Luxembourg Stock Exchange

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