Fresenius Medical Care North America (“FMCNA”), wholly-owned subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (“FMC”) (Frankfurt Stock Exchange; FME and NYSE: FMS), will introduce the Liberty™ Cycler during the 28th Annual Dialysis Conference, Orlando, Florida, March 1-4, 2008. This proprietary device is designed for use in Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) therapy, which continues to be the most frequently utilized home therapy for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
The Liberty™ Cycler is the latest technology offering from Fresenius Medical Care for patients being treated for ESRD at home. The cycler combines advanced pumping technology with ease of use. Patients and medical personnel throughout initial trials and testing have reported enhanced training speeds and confidence with treatment through utilization of the device. The introduction of the Liberty™ cycler completes the total system approach offered by Fresenius Medical Care for the peritoneal dialysis patient. Several years ago, the organization successfully launched stay•safe®, a connection technology designed to reduce risk associated with touch contamination during connection and disconnection from treatment. With the introduction of the Liberty™ cycler, nephrologists can now prescribe APD and CAPD therapy for patients and have access to stay•safe® connectology.
More than 300,000 ESRD patients currently require dialysis treatment in the United States. This number is projected to increase beyond historical rates with the elevated incidence of hypertension and diabetes within the general population. A viable option for a very specific percentage of the ESRD patient base, medical treatment for dialysis at home continues to maintain a respectable market share against the more traditional in-center dialysis treatment. Over ninety percent of the home dialysis patient population undergoes peritoneal dialysis for treatment of their disease.
“Based on our initial feedback from leading nephrologists,” reported Rice Powell, CEO, Renal Therapies Group and Co-CEO of Fresenius Medical Care North America, “we believe that there will be a strong reception for this innovative, easy-to-use product. Our development team, along with caregivers and patients, has worked diligently to create a device that enhances the ease of treatment set-up as well as the intra-dialytic user interface. We are pleased to have reached this significant milestone and are proud to be able to bring this product to the home therapy community.”
Fresenius Medical Care is the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects about 1,600,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,238 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 173,863 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world’s leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange “FME” and the New York Stock Exchange “FMS”.
Michael Salius, Media Contact O: 860-482-2978, Cell: 860-543-1683 or [email protected]
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.
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