DENVER, Jun 01, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DaVita Inc. /quotes/zigman/268700/quotes/nls/dva DVA -1.26% , a leading provider of kidney care services that is committed to improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced important emergency preparedness information and resources for dialysis patients during the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts June 1.

On average, more than six hurricanes occur during a typical Atlantic hurricane season. The somewhat unpredictable nature of hurricanes can put dialysis patients, who require treatments at least three times per week, at a heightened risk by causing clinic and road closures.

In order to prepare for the unexpected, DaVita(R) recommends dialysis patients create an emergency kit that includes:

-- Emergency phone numbers for their doctors and dialysis center, as well as contact information for a nearby dialysis center

-- At least three days' worth of medications, as well as a list of the dosage amounts

-- If diabetic, a week's worth of supplies (syringes, insulin, alcohol wipes, glucose monitoring strips, etc.)

-- Access to clean water, food, a can opener, first aid supplies, and a battery-operated flashlight and radio

"Unfortunately we can't be there if a weather-related emergency happens while a patient is at home," said Tom Bradsell, facility administrator at DaVita and head of DaVita's emergency response team, DaVERT. "That's why, as caregivers, we take important measures to help ensure our patients have the tools they need to be educated and prepared should a hurricane-related emergency occur."

Visit DaVita.com to see the full three-day emergency diet and additional emergency preparedness information, including:

-- Emergency preparedness for people with kidney disease

-- Preparing for the unexpected with home dialysis

-- Diabetes Emergency Plan

For additional questions, or for assistance during a weather-related event, call DaVita Guest Services at 1-800-400-8331.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500(R) company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita strives to improve patients' quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of March 31, 2012, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,841 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 145,000 patients. The company also operated 15 outpatient dialysis centers located in three countries outside the United States. DaVita supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company's leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit www.davita.com .

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.

        
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Copyright Business Wire 2012

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WIXOM, MI--(Marketwire - May 31, 2012) - Rockwell Medical (NASDAQ: RMTI), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company targeting end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with innovative products and services for the treatment of iron deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism and hemodialysis, announced today that it has completed patient enrollment in its pivotal Phase III CRUISE-1 clinical study, designed to provide iron-delivery to hemodialysis-dependent CKD patients.

Robert L. Chioini, Chairman and CEO of Rockwell, stated, "We are excited to have achieved this important milestone, which moves us closer to completing our SFP clinical development. We remain on track to meet our clinical development timeline for SFP, a product which upon FDA approval has the potential to transform the iron therapy market for dialysis patients."

Rockwell is conducting two pivotal Phase III clinical trials for SFP called CRUISE-1 and CRUISE-2. Each study is a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study designed to demonstrate efficacy and safety of SFP-iron, delivered via dialysate, in adult CKD patients requiring hemodialysis. Each study will treat 300 patients, randomized equally between SFP and placebo groups with a treatment period of up to 12 months. The primary efficacy end-point for both studies is the mean change in hemoglobin from baseline.

About Rockwell Medical:

Rockwell Medical is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company targeting end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with innovative products and services for the treatment of iron deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism and hemodialysis. Rockwell's lead, late-stage investigational drug for iron therapy treatment is called SFP (soluble ferric pyrophosphate). SFP delivers iron in a non-invasive, physiologic manner to dialysis patients via dialysate during their regular dialysis treatment. SFP is currently in ongoing Phase III clinical trials (CRUISE-1 and CRUISE-2) and addresses a $600M U.S. and $1B global market. Rockwell's Calcitriol (Active Vitamin D) injection for treating secondary hyperparathyroidism addresses a $350M U.S. market. 

Rockwell is also an established manufacturer and leader in delivering high-quality hemodialysis concentrates/dialysates to dialysis providers and distributors in the U.S. and abroad. These products are used to maintain human life by removing toxins and replacing critical nutrients in the dialysis patient's bloodstream. Rockwell's operating business is designed as a ready-made sales and distribution channel to provide seamless integration into the commercial market for its drug products, Calcitriol and SFP upon FDA market approval. 

Rockwell's exclusive renal drug therapies support disease management initiatives to improve the quality of life and care of dialysis patients and are intended to deliver safe and effective therapy, while decreasing drug administration costs and improving patient convenience. Rockwell Medical is developing a pipeline of drug therapies, including extensions of SFP for indications outside of hemodialysis. Please visit www.rockwellmed.com for more information. For a demonstration of SFP's unique mechanism of action in delivering iron via dialysate, please view the animation video at http://www.rockwellmed.com/collateral/documents/english-us/mode-of-action.html.

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, Rockwell's intention to launch Calcitriol and SFP following FDA approval. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While Rockwell Medical believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in Rockwell Medical's SEC filings. Thus, actual results could be materially different. Rockwell Medical expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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For decades, medical experts have been concerned that high-protein, low-carb diets like Atkins could be damaging to the kidneys, but a new study found that this isn’t the case in otherwise healthy patients.

Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine compared the effects of such a diet to that of a standard low-fat diet in 307 obese people who did not suffer from kidney disease or other chronic illnesses.

After a two-year period, they found that the high-protein, low-carb diet didn’t cause noticeable harmful effects on healthy obese patients’ kidney function compared to obese people who followed a low-fat diet.

“Despite decades of concerns about low-carb, high-protein diets that may cause kidney damage in healthy people, there were no signs that this would be the case after a 2-year period,” said Dr. Allon Friedman, lead author of the study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Protein in the blood contributes to important protective benefits to the body, including fighting infections, blood clots and improving circulation in the body. Normally proteins are too big to pass through the kidneys’ filter into the urine, but proteins from the blood can leak into the urine when kidney filters are damaged, according to the NIH.

Abnormal amounts of protein in the urine, known as proteinuria, usually point to some sort of kidney disease, regardless of diet. But, researchers found that the most important way to reduce protein in urine did not have to do with the type of diet was the actual amount of weight lost, “not really how you get there,” Friedman said.

The results are relevant to the millions of healthy obese adults who use dieting as a weight-loss strategy, researchers noted. More than one-third of American adults are obese, according to the CDC.

Despite the promising results, Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, chief medical officer of the National Kidney Foundation, cautioned people to take the findings with a grain of salt.

“The population studied does not apply to most patients with or at risk for chronic kidney disease, since the study participants had no evidence of chronic kidney disease or other illnesses,” said Vassalotti.

“The best diet is obviously one that is balanced, that reduces calories and encourages daily exercise,” said Friedman. “For this study, we really showed that it’s not important how someone loses weight, but whether they can do it and keep it off.”

But Vassalotti added that the most “successful nutrition therapy will include a treating clinician, registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator and the patient to consider an individualized nutrition plan.”

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June 01, 2012 20:26 PM

Mercy Malaysia Donates Dialysis Machine To Pakistan Hospital

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) donated a dialysis machine worth RM48,000 (USD$15,000) to Mirpukhas Civil Hospital in Pakistan Thursday, as part of its efforts to help reconstruct and rehabilitate health centres.

Mercy Malaysia vice-president Norazam Ab Samah said the Malaysian consul-general in Karachi, Abu Bakar Mamat, handed over the machine to the hospital's head of dialysis centre, Dr Tariq Arain.

"We also plan to rehabilitate a rural health centre in Tando Jan Muhammad, an area near Mirpurkhas," Norazam, who was present at the ceremony, said in a statement.

He said local contractors would be evaluated and selected by Mercy Malaysia's technical consultant for the tender process and provide technical consultation for the project during the entire recontruction period. Norazam said the Malaysian Government had donated RM3 million (about USD$1 million), to be utilised by Mercy Malaysia, for various projects in Sindh to alleviate the burden faced by the people there.

He said two mobile clinics set up in March, in collaboration with a local organisation, had so far provided consultation to more than 21,000 people.

In addition, Mercy Malaysia had distributed hygiene kits to more than 1,500 families this year, and begun projects of installing latrines, hand pumps and water filtration systems in villages in Sindh, said Norazam.

-- BERNAMA

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