Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest provider of dialysis products and services, today announced that company researchers and clinical experts from across the globe present 77 research abstracts at the 2017 American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Kidney Week Symposium, the largest and most influential meeting of kidney professionals in the world.

Scheduled from October 31 to November 5, 2017, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, the annual symposium draws more than 13,000 physicians, scientists and healthcare professionals from over 100 countries.

“Our ability to harness the power of research across our global enterprise is one of our many competitive advantages,” said Rice Powell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care. “Staying at the forefront of science drives our innovation and is central to better clinical outcomes in our core dialysis as well as in care coordination activities.”

The scope of the company’s research and quality improvement endeavours builds on Fresenius Medical Care’s strength as the world’s largest, vertically integrated healthcare company. With a focus on chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and adjacent medical conditions, the company’s research crosses seven general categories:

• Using science and technology to characterize and improve patient outcomes
• Driving advancements in management paradigms through value based care models
• Utilizing predictive modeling for clinical decision support and better outcomes
• Characterizing the impacts of CKD options education on outcomes and modality selection
• Leveraging coordinated care initiatives to improve patient outcomes
• Defining outcomes related to the management of bone mineral metabolism in renal disease
• Identification of the influences of social determinants of health on clinical measures

“The breadth and depth of our leadership in advancing science into clinical practice underscores our mission to improve the lives of people with kidney and chronic diseases,” said Franklin W. Maddux, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Clinical and Scientific Affairs for Fresenius Medical Care North America. “In blending patient perspectives with real world evidence and traditional research, we are able to translate science into clinical practice that ultimately improves the lives of the patients who entrust us with their care.”

At today’s Special Meeting, the stockholders of NxStage Medical, Inc. approved the adoption of the previously announced merger agreement with Fresenius Medical Care, with approximately 72% of outstanding shares having voted in favor of the transaction. This corresponds to approximately 94% of the votes cast at the Special Meeting. The approval of the merger agreement fulfills an important condition for the full acquisition of NxStage Medical, Inc. The transaction remains subject to additional customary closing conditions, including regulatory review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act in the United States.

Through the acquisition of NxStage, Fresenius Medical Care aims at further growth in home dialysis and in the critical care area. On August 7, 2017, Fresenius Medical Care announced it would acquire NxStage (NASDAQ: NXTM), a U.S.-based medical technology company focused on advancing renal care, for USD 30.00 per share, equivalent to a total transaction value of approximately EUR* 1.7 billion (USD 2.0 billion).

*Based on an exchange rate of 0.849 USD/EUR as per 5 August 2017.

Fresenius Vamed has opened the Institute for Gender Medicine in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna. This new research institute, in the Lower Austria town of Gars am Kamp, will focus on the different needs of female and male patients, for example in the interpretation of disease symptoms. Fresenius Vamed will be able to use the institute’s research findings to develop tailored treatment offerings in areas such as prevention and rehabilitation. The Institute for Gender Medicine complements initiatives for individualized medical care already being carried out by the VAMED International Medical Board and its approximately 650 physicians.

Fresenius Vamed has opened the Institute for Gender Medicine in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna. This new research institute, in the Lower Austria town of Gars am Kamp, will focus on the different needs of female and male patients, for example in the interpretation of disease symptoms. Fresenius Vamed will be able to use the institute’s research findings to develop tailored treatment offerings in areas such as prevention and rehabilitation. The Institute for Gender Medicine complements initiatives for individualized medical care already being carried out by the VAMED International Medical Board and its approximately 650 physicians.

Quirónsalud, the Spanish hospital group that is part of Fresenius Helios, is undertaking a major expansion of University Hospital Quirónsalud Madrid. A new, 6,000-square-meter (almost 65,000-square-foot) wing scheduled for completion by next summer will add 52 new beds, bringing the hospital’s total to 288. The expansion will also include 25 doctors’ offices, nine resuscitation rooms and three delivery rooms, as well as two hybrid operating rooms that can be used both for conventional operations and for minimally invasive surgical procedures – so-called “keyhole surgery.” All expansion and modernization measures should be completed by the end of 2018. The total investment is about €31 million.

Quirónsalud, the Spanish hospital group that is part of Fresenius Helios, is undertaking a major expansion of University Hospital Quirónsalud Madrid. A new, 6,000-square-meter (almost 65,000-square-foot) wing scheduled for completion by next summer will add 52 new beds, bringing the hospital’s total to 288. The expansion will also include 25 doctors’ offices, nine resuscitation rooms and three delivery rooms, as well as two hybrid operating rooms that can be used both for conventional operations and for minimally invasive surgical procedures – so-called “keyhole surgery.” All expansion and modernization measures should be completed by the end of 2018. The total investment is about €31 million.