Dialysis News and Research

Latest Dialysis News and Research

End stage renal disease can be delayed by early identification of CKD

Early identification of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can delay the onset of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the need for chronic dialysis treatments. The incidence of CKD continues to grow, and early identification and intervention are critical to manage this costly disease.

11 Sep 2009

ERC funds DiaDrug project to study the link between insulin resistance and albuminuria

The European Research Council (ERC) expects to fund some 240 top researchers in its second prestigious ERC Starting Grant competition. This new wave of grantees follows the 299 researchers who received grants in the first Starting Grant competition in 2007. In total, 2503 proposals were submitted to the second Starting Grant call.

11 Sep 2009

Merck update on the status of telcagepant clinical development programs

Merck & Co., Inc. today updated the status of the clinical development programs for telcagepant (MK-0974) and MK-3207, the Company's investigational oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists for the intermittent treatment of acute migraine.

11 Sep 2009

KidneyTel system helps manage health issues faced by kidney patients

Kidney patients often have a number of serious chronic health issues in addition to their kidney disease. Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading renal therapies company, has developed the KidneyTel system to provide an integrated care solution to assist patients, their families and their providers in managing the full range of health issues that kidney patients face on a daily basis.

11 Sep 2009

FDA removes clinical hold on HEPLISAV hepatitis B vaccine

Dynavax Technologies Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the clinical hold for the HEPLISAVTM Investigational New Drug (IND) application in individuals with chronic kidney disease.

10 Sep 2009

Affymax to complete Hematide Phase 3 clinical study by the end of 2009

Affymax, Inc. today announced that it has notified clinical trial sites to complete treatment of patients in the Phase 3 clinical program for the investigational drug, Hematide, by the end of 2009.

10 Sep 2009

Board-certified vascular surgeon joins VIVA

Virginia Interventional and Vascular Associates (VIVA) and its parent group, Radiologic Associates of Fredericksburg (RAF) Ltd., announce that Victor J. D'Addio, M.D., FACS, has joined the practice. Dr. D'Addio is a board-certified vascular surgeon. Together, the practice offers streamlined services for vascular patients and referring physicians -- from office-based vascular testing to minimally invasive treatments and traditional surgery.

10 Sep 2009

Patient enrollment completed in Phase 2b clinical trial for Pyridorin

NephroGenex, Inc., a privately held drug development company focusing on kidney disease, today announced the completion of patient enrollment in its Phase 2b clinical trial (PYR-210) studying the safety and efficacy of its lead drug candidate Pyridorin (pyridoxamine dihydrochloride) in type 2 diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy. Three hundred and seventeen (317) patients have been randomized.

10 Sep 2009

DaVita offers individualized treatment options for students with kidney disease

DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), supports dialysis patients' education by offering individualized treatment options based on optimal patient care standards and social circumstances.

10 Sep 2009

Research study examines the depression rate in chronic kidney disease patients

One in five patients with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

9 Sep 2009

Xcorporeal to trade under the symbol “XCRP” on the Pink Sheets Electronic OTC Market

Xcorporeal, Inc. (Pink Sheets: XCRP) (the “Company” or “Xcorporeal”) announced that, effective as of today, the Company’s common stock commenced trading on the Pink Sheets Electronic OTC Market, an inter-dealer electronic quotation service for securities traded over-the-counter also known as the Pink Sheets, under the symbol “XCRP”.

5 Sep 2009

Texas Senators higlight CMS about the delay in opening many local dialysis facilities

As Congress prepares to reconvene next week following an August recess period filled with wide-ranging local discussion of health care reform, the Texas kidney community expressed hope that the momentum and public desire for health care reform in Washington can help drive momentum and discussion in Texas about the vital need to open 38 end stage renal disease (ESRD) centers still sitting idle, which, if opened, will dramatically expand access to quality dialysis care and create good-paying local jobs.

5 Sep 2009

Real American Brands to start medical transportation business

Real American Brands, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: RLAB) announced today that the company has approved plans to pursue and operate an emergency and non-emergency health services transportation division, to be developed in close consultation with transport and medical personnel who have broad experience in the field.

4 Sep 2009

Medicare advantage rates could go up, while Part D 'exceeding expectations'

"Despite near-zero inflation and recessionary conditions, health insurers in 2010 face another year of double-digit increases in the charges they pay for hospital services, physicians, drugs, and other healthcare costs," U.S. News and World Report writes in a news column.

4 Sep 2009

Beijing Rain and Earth Technology to provide cheaper blood dialysis in China

RainEarth Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: RNER; "the Company") announced that in the second quarter of 2009, the Xinhua News Agency publicized the creation of "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Medical and Health Care System" ("Opinion").

3 Sep 2009

Netherlands shows the way in healthcare accountability

As national healthcare reform initiatives grab headlines throughout the U.S., Maasstad Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, is quietly demonstrating how physicians, nurses, and administrators can be held accountable to national performance standards.

3 Sep 2009

Colorado braces for mental health cuts, Florida nursing homes brace for Medicare cuts, and other developments

Kaiser Health News: "Three years after Massachusetts implemented a state program to provide near universal health care, officials said that a key to their success was that stakeholders from the state's health care sector and the business community had a commitment to implementing the program." Despite successes, one state official said cost containment remains a challenge (Marcy, 9/1).

3 Sep 2009

Validus chooses Ranbaxy to market an authorized generic version of Rocaltrol in the US

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), Gurgaon, India, announced an agreement with Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC (Validus) to market and distribute an authorized generic version of Rocaltrol(R) (calcitriol) in both softgel capsules and an oral liquid formulation. Overall market sales for calcitriol softgel capsules and oral liquid were $70 million (IMS - MAT: June 2009).

2 Sep 2009

The Kyoto Heart study shows positive effect of valsartan on cardiovascular outcome

The KYOTO HEART Study, which took place in Japan between January 2004 and January 2009, shows that the addition of valsartan to conventional antihypertensive treatment to improve blood pressure control is associated with an improved cardiovascular outcome in Japanese hypertensive patients at high risk of CVD events.

2 Sep 2009

PROTECT clinical study aimed at the assessment of rolofylline effects

Despite the promising findings of the PROTECT Pilot study, the larger PROTECT trial found no difference with rolofylline versus placebo with respect of the primary and main secondary end-points of the study. Although more rolofylline patients than placebo patients experienced moderate or marked dyspnea improvement at 24 and 48 hours from randomization, this was counterbalanced by a lack of effect on persistent renal impairment. Lastly, the risk of important neurological events was increased in patients on rolofylline.

2 Sep 2009