NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Renal Research Institute ("RRI") announced today that it is one of three recipients of cooperative agreement grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to conduct clinical trials on daily or more frequent hemodialysis.
Founded in 1997, RRI conducts dialysis related technological and therapeutic research to improve patient outcomes. RRI is a joint venture between Beth Israel Medical Center, New York and Fresenius Medical Care North America (NYSE:FMS) (NYSE:FMS_p), which is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:FME) (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:FME 3), the world's largest provider of Dialysis Products and Services.
The NIDDK is interested in understanding the potential medical benefits of more frequent dialysis for patients with end stage kidney disease. These recent awards from the NIDDK, as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, will examine the feasibility of randomization of patients to a more frequent than current dialysis schedule with the eventual aim of constituting a trial with sufficient power to study differences in patient outcomes.
RRI's experience in developing treatment models and technology to maximize the effects of daily dialysis to improve patient outcomes will contribute to the focus of this trial.
RRI has assembled a group of cooperating institutions and dialysis facilities to accomplish this task. The Principal Investigator is Nathan W. Levin, MD, Medical and Research Director of RRI. A complete list of performance sites participating in the RRI consortium can be found on RRI's website at www.renalresearch.com.
This is a four-year commitment RRI, University of California -- San Francisco and Wake Forest University are undertaking as coordinating clinical centers to recruit patients for this trial. The plan is to randomize patients to compare conventional thrice weekly hemodialysis with short daily and long nocturnal hemodialysis. The first year is devoted to protocol development. Patients will be followed for at least six months in the second and third year of the study, while the fourth year will be devoted to data analysis.
The Renal Research Institute (RRI) is dedicated to advancing therapy options for dialysis patients to provide the highest caliber of care based on advanced clinical technology. The Institute is committed to research and innovation that will lead to improved patient outcomes and quality of life. RRI strives for a compassionate approach to our patients and to fulfill the needs and expectations of our customers. Through efficient application of new clinical therapies and technical innovations, RRI seeks to expand our network of facilities in collaboration with academic centers. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive renal services to providers, regional insurers, and managed care organizations with full recognition of the economic constraint under which we operate. Through the Fresenius Medical Care/Beth Israel Medical Center partnership and its network of academic facilities, RRI is able to enhance the spectrum of comprehensive renal services by advancing peritoneal and hemodialysis therapies through clinical research and the application of practice guidelines and new technology. For more information about Renal Research Institute, visit RRI's website at http://www.renalresearch.com
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