OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flow Forward Medical Inc. (Flow Forward), an early-stage company focused on improving outcomes for hemodialysis patients through the rapid creation of high-quality vascular access sites, today announced that it has closed a $1.3 million round of additional Series A financing, led by existing investor, the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA). Flow Forward previously raised $4.4 million in Series A funding, bringing the total in equity funding raised to date to approximately $5.7 million. Series A proceeds will be used to continue the development of Flow Forward’s Arteriovenous Fistula Eligibility (AFE) System™, a small, minimally invasive blood pump system designed for temporary use to rapidly dilate peripheral veins through flow-mediated vascular remodeling prior to arteriovenous fistula (AVF) surgery.

Flow Forward also announced today that it will receive a $225,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The SBIR funding will be used to test peripheral vein dilation with the AFE System prior to AVF creation in a nonclinical model.

“Many of the two million patients on hemodialysis worldwide who undergo conventional surgical AVF creation each year experience vascular access site failure, which is associated with increased morbidity. With its AFE System, Flow Forward is addressing issues known to contribute to AVF failure,” said Tom Krol, Managing Director at KBA and a member of Flow Forward’s board of directors. “In early studies conducted in a challenging nonclinical model, the company has shown much more rapid vein dilation, large increases in blood flow and a significant reduction in vein wall scarring, when compared with conventional AVF creation. We believe that the AFE System has the potential to drive broad increases in AVF eligibility as well as large reductions in AVF failure.”

Flow Forward also announced today the appointment of Kurt Dasse, PhD, to its board of directors. Dasse has spent nearly three decades conducting cardiovascular research and developing products to treat heart, lung and kidney diseases. He is currently President and CEO of GeNO LLC, a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation delivery systems for inhaled nitric oxide, a pharmacologic blood vessel dilator. He was previously President and CEO of Levitronix LLC, a developer and manufacturer of rotary blood pump systems for cardiopulmonary support that was acquired by Thoratec Corporation in 2011.

“I am pleased to have additional financial resources from KBA and the NIH’s SBIR program to accelerate the development of the AFE System. I also welcome Kurt to our Board. His decades of industry experience and deep domain experience in cardiovascular biology and physiology will be invaluable as we work to realize our goal of providing physicians more and better options when creating vascular access sites for hemodialysis patients,” said F. Nicholas Franano, MD, President and CEO of Flow Forward.

About Hemodialysis and Vascular Access Failure
Hemodialysis is a lifesaving treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which affects an estimated two million patients worldwide. Before patients can receive hemodialysis treatment, a reliable vascular access site must be created. An arteriovenous fistula (AVF), which surgically connects an artery to a vein, typically in the arm, is preferred over other forms of vascular access due to improved patient survival, reduced complications and hospitalization rates, and large reductions in the cost of care. However, approximately 40 percent of U.S. hemodialysis patients do not currently use an AVF for vascular access, primarily due to inadequate vein diameter and high rates of AVF failure (up to 60 percent) following conventional surgical placement. There are currently no products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase AVF ineligibility or unassisted AVF maturation, the process by which an AVF becomes ready for hemodialysis.

About Flow Forward Medical
Flow Forward is developing a novel approach to rapidly establish high-quality vascular access sites for hemodialysis. The AFE System is a small, external blood pump designed for temporary use to stimulate flow-mediated dilation to make more patients eligible for an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and increase success rates after surgery. Establishment of a reliable AVF reduces morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients, as well as the overall cost of care. For additional information, please visit www.flowforwardmedical.com.

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Research Report on "Global Hemodialysis Market 2015-2019" by Market Research Store

Our analyst researched the following companies as the key players in the global hemodialysis market: Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc. and Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: Argon Medical Devices, Asahi Kasei Medical, Covidien, C.R. Bard, Kawasumi Laboratories, Medical Components, Merit Medical Systems, Nikkiso, Nipro, NxStage Medical and Teleflex.

Request For Sample Report Here:
http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-hemodialysis-market-2015-2019-15987#reportTableOfContent

Commenting on the report, an our analyst said: “The popularity of home hemodialysis is a major trend emerging in the market. Home hemodialysis is convenient as it offers flexibility when administering the therapy, and this eliminates travel time and minimizes recovery time.”

According to the report, one of the major drivers of the market is the growing patient population with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. By the end of 2014, it was estimated that about three million patients globally were treated for ESRD.

Further, the report states that risks associated with hemodialysis, such as hypotension, hypertension, infections, muscles cramps, itching, infections, and bone diseases pose a serious concern in the market. In developing countries, there is a pronounced lack of organization in the market, where few national bodies or organizations exist to collect data about the incidences of renal failure and its treatment.

For further information on this report, please visit-http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-hemodialysis-market-2015-2019-15987

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors. 

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Caucasian and Hispanic children who undergo lung transplantation appear to be at greater risk for developing chronic kidney disease, or CKD, according to a small retrospective study conducted at Texas Children's Hospital.

The study, believed to be the first to look at CKD in children who have received lung transplants, also found that those children with high levels of tacrolimus, a powerful immunosuppressant given to fight organ rejection, circulating in the blood and those who experience at least one episode of acute kidney injury during their recovery also appear to be at greater risk for CKD.

"These results show tendencies that need to be explored further," said lead investigator Maria Gazzaneo, MD, who will present her research at ATS 2015, May 15-20, in Denver. "Still, we believe these results suggest pediatric lung transplantation patients can benefit from renal protective strategies."

At Texas Children's Hospital, where Dr. Gazzaneo is assistant professor of pediatric critical care and lung transplantation, the health care team now measures tacrolimus levels and kidney function twice a day. When possible, they try to reduce tacrolimus dosage, particularly in the first seven days post-surgery. The transplant team also involves nephrologists earlier in the care of any child who appears to be a risk for CKD.

Dr. Gazzaneo examined the medical records of 38 children who received a lung transplant at her hospital between 2012 and 2014. Two were excluded because they died within two months of the surgery. Of the 36 others, 5, or 13.8%, developed CKD within one year of transplantation based on criteria established by an international clinical guideline, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).

Three of the children with CKD were Caucasian and two were Hispanic. Tacrolimus levels were elevated (15 ng/ml or higher) during the first seven post-operative days in 80% of those who developed CKD. All patients who developed CKD had at least one episode of acute kidney injury, or AKI. Among the children who did not develop CKD, the incidence of AKI was 71 percent.

Dr. Gazzaneo noted that CKD almost always presents a life-long challenge that can lead to many other complications, including hypertension, anemia, growth retardation and bone disease.

"The patients who developed CKD in our study were adolescents," she said. "If we could spare them this complication, it would greatly enhance their quality of life for the rest of their lives."

Explore further: Study uncovers predictors of chronic kidney disease worsening in children and adolescents

More information: Abstract 68152: Chronic Kidney Disease After Lung Transplantation: Incidence and Risk Factors in Pediatric Population: Retrospective Review

Provided by American Thoracic Society

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Young Councillor, Stuart Freudenstein, is disappointed that Cowra, Young and Boorowa will now share funds for a renal unit.

The Young Health Service currently houses a self-managed renal dialysis unit. But the Young Health Advisory Committee hoped to upgrade it to a managed unit with staff.

Young Councillor, Stuart Freudenstein, is disappointed that Cowra, Young and Boorowa will now share funds for a renal unit.

The Young Health Service currently houses a self-managed renal dialysis unit. But the Young Health Advisory Committee hoped to upgrade it to a managed unit with staff.

"I was wondering whether we should be kicking doors down, expressing our disappointment," Cr Freudenstein said.

Last week Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) announced it had formed a partnership with the Western NSW Local Health District to work closely together to plan for a new regional renal dialysis unit to service Young, Boorowa and Cowra at Cowra Health Service.

Work on an eight chair unit - that will initially be open three days per week - is proposed to start in July and unit is expected to be ready to receive patients by February 2016.

Mayor John Walker - a member of the Young Health Advisory committee - defended the decision saying Young hasn't completely missed out, with local patients' travel time cut in half to access the service.

"Murrumbidgee Local Health District said Young was going to upgrade, they said funding was available but they couldn't guarantee the staff," Cr Walker said,

"It's hard for us to qualify getting that service unless it's viable.

"Cowra is in a different health district and keeping in mind they have some room at their hospital, there was a push from Orange for one to go to Cowra, which in itself is a huge step forward and still a plus for Young."

But Cr Walker disputed that the decision was announced by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner during a visit to Cowra in November 2014, as claimed by MLHD.

He said he and Young's general manager Peter Vlatko were only informed of the decision to base the unit at Cowra at 9.30am on March 30.

He plans to organise a meeting with Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson as soon as possible.

"We'll explain the case; that patients still have to travel, Cowra is in a different health district and that Young still wants the service," he said.

MLHD executive director of nursing and midwifery Karen Cairney said the Murrumbidgee Local Health District Renal Clinical Service Plan stated that the feasibility of establishing a satellite/in-care centre at Young would be explored by MLHD in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

She said while specialist staff could be recruited and trained locally, the unit was being established at Cowra Hospital for patients of the surrounding region.

"MLHD will undertake regular analysis of renal service demand to plan future services," Ms Cairney said.

"The Young self-dialysis service will remain."

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