Fresenius has been awarded the HR Excellence Award 2018 in the Compensation & Benefits category for the global healthcare group’s compensatory time account calculator. This calculator enables employees to quickly and transparently access information on time off that they have banked, options to take leave for continuing education or to care for family members, and possible early retirement. The HR Excellence Awards have been presented by Human Resources Manager magazine since 2012 to recognize outstanding projects in personnel management.

Der Gesundheitskonzern Fresenius ist für seinen Langzeitkonto-Rechner mit dem „HR Excellence Award 2018“ in der Kategorie „Compensation & Benefits“ ausgezeichnet worden. Der Langzeitkonto-Rechner bietet den Mitarbeitern schnell und transparent Informationen über eingebrachte Beiträge, Auszeiten für die persönliche Weiterbildung oder die Pflege von Angehörigen sowie einen möglichen Vorruhestand. Mit den „HR Excellence Awards“ prämiert das Magazin „Human Resources Manager“ seit 2012 herausragende Projekte im Personalmanagement.

Unicyte AG, a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care, has initiated a long-term research collaboration with Prof. Dr.  Tobias B. Huber of Germany’s Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of kidney diseases.

Prof. Huber, Chair of the III. Department of Medicine at UKE, a major university hospital, is a leading expert on glomerular diseases. He will direct the research program, which aims to address various forms of kidney disease including diabetic nephropathy. The goals of the collaboration are to gain further insights into the process leading to the gradual decline in renal function and to identify genetic, signaling and soluble factors involved in the underlying mechanisms.

Unicyte, a leading regenerative medicine company with translational programs in the field of kidney disorders and other illnesses, is building on successful partnerships with other academic partners. These include a collaboration of 15 years’ standing with the University of Torino in Italy.

Dr. Olaf Schermeier, Fresenius Medical Care’s CEO for Global Research and Development, said: “As Unicyte’s organizational structure is designed to leverage the benefits of academia-industry partnerships, the collaboration with Prof. Huber offers a unique opportunity to help patients with kidney disorders by developing innovative treatment options based on a holistic understanding of renal dysfunction. I’m very excited about this collaboration with one of the leading hospitals in Europe, as it could lead to new treatment options that will complement current kidney care.”

Prof. Tobias B. Huber stated: “Because fundamental scientific questions concerning the pathomechanisms of kidney diseases remain to be answered, we will further explore the potential of new options for the treatment of kidney patients in pre-dialysis stages. The collaboration with Unicyte as industry partner will be fruitful in developing a therapy from pre-clinical research through to clinical practice. Our goal is to provide excellent new therapies, reduce the burden of disease, and significantly improve the lives of our patients.”

Omegaven® is an intravenous lipid emulsion that provides calories and fatty acids. In the U.S. it is indicated for pediatric patients with parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis, or PNAC. With Omegaven® Fresenius Kabi provides the first and only FDA-approved fish oil lipid emulsion for this condition.

The Supervisory Board of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA has decided to propose PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft as the auditor for the financial year 2020. The shareholders will decide on the appointment at the Annual General Meeting in 2020. New regulations provide for a regular rotation of the auditor, so Fresenius was not able to extend the existing mandate of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft.

The Supervisory Board of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA has decided to propose PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft as the auditor for the financial year 2020. The shareholders will decide on the appointment at the Annual General Meeting in 2020. New regulations provide for a regular rotation of the auditor, so Fresenius was not able to extend the existing mandate of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft.

In the lawsuit by Akorn, Inc. against Fresenius for the consummation of the April 2017 merger agreement the Supreme Court in the U.S. state of Delaware today ruled in favor of Fresenius. As this is the highest Court in Delaware, no further appeal is possible.

Fresenius terminated the merger agreement due to Akorn’s failure to fulfill several closing conditions. An independent investigation initiated by Fresenius had revealed, among other things, material breaches of FDA data integrity requirements relating to Akorn's operations. Akorn responded by suing in the Court of Chancery in Delaware for the consummation of the agreement but Akorn’s lawsuit had been dismissed by the Court of Chancery of Delaware in the first instance as well as now in the second and last instance before the Delaware Supreme Court.