NxStage Patient Takes Dialysis Machine on Third Annual Patient Good-Will TourFri Sep 18, 2009 4:31pm EDT
LAWRENCE, Mass., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
NxStage Medical, Inc.
(Nasdaq: NXTM), a leading manufacturer of innovative dialysis products, today
announced that home dialysis patient Harvey Wells, 57, has embarked on his
third annual "Grandpa's Road Trip" with the NxStage(R) System One(TM). As a
portable home hemodialysis machine, the NxStage System One provides Mr. Wells
the opportunity to fit hemodialysis therapy into his own lifestyle and
schedule. Mr. Wells is once again celebrating this freedom by traveling the
country in his RV and sharing with other patients his experience doing home
daily hemodialysis with the NxStage System One.
"NxStage was founded to improve the lives of dialysis patients, like Harvey,
by providing them the freedom to dialyze when they want and where they want,"
said Jeffrey H. Burbank, chief executive officer of NxStage Medical. "Harvey
is an inspiration to all of us at NxStage. He also shares our belief that,
although home hemodialysis is not for everyone, there are many patients who
can benefit from the reported health and quality of life benefits of more
frequent home dialysis."
Mr. Wells' "Grandpa's Road Trip 2009: The Football Tour" began on Sunday,
September 13, 2009 in Cleveland. During the tour, Mr. Wells will also be
attending football games in Denver, Baltimore, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Chicago,
Detroit, Cincinnati, and Kansas City, and spending several days at local
dialysis centers in each city meeting with kidney patients and educating them
about home hemodialysis. The 2009 Road Trip will run through the end of
regular season football on January 3, 2010.
Mr. Wells was first diagnosed with reduced kidney function at the age of 18.
Following a failed kidney transplant, Mr. Wells began four and a half hour
dialysis sessions at a treatment center three days a week in 2006. These
treatments often left him fatigued and made traveling difficult. Now, as a
NxStage System One patient, Mr. Wells dialyzes on a more frequent basis and
travels with his family.
In 2007, Mr. Wells and his wife took their two grandsons on a two-week road
trip in his RV with the NxStage System One, spanning 3,700 miles and 11
states. In the summer of 2008, Mr. Wells expanded his tour to a 51-day
excursion covering more than 12,500 miles and 37 states. Along the way, he
dialyzed with a partner in his RV using the System One and visited 22 dialysis
centers to speak to kidney patients about home hemodialysis.
"I'm excited to be able to share my love of football with my grandsons and
make stops at dialysis centers between games," Wells said. "I am passionate
about what this small, portable hemodialysis machine has done for me and the
freedom it has given me and my family to travel together all over this
country."
The NxStage System One is the first truly portable hemodialysis system cleared
for home use by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Its simplicity and
compact size are intended to allow ease of use and to give patients the
opportunity to travel with their therapy with their doctor's approval. It
plugs into standard electrical outlets and, unlike conventional hemodialysis
systems, requires no special infrastructure to operate. Under the guidance of
their physician, patients can use the NxStage System One, with their trained
partners, where, how and when it best meets their needs, at home or on
vacation.
Follow Harvey Wells on his 2009 "Grandpa's Road Trip" on the NxStage website
(
www.nxstage.com).
About NxStage Medical
NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTM) is a medical device company,
headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, that develops, manufactures and
markets innovative products for the treatment of End Stage Renal Disease
(ESRD) and acute kidney failure. For more information on NxStage and its
products, please visit NxStage's website at
www.nxstage.com.
Disclosure
Mr. Wells receives a speaking engagement fee from NxStage for each RV tour
dialysis center stop and reimbursement for travel expenses directly related to
his dialysis center stops. Mr. Wells covers all other expenses.
Investor Relations Contact
Kristen Sheppard
NxStage Medical, Inc.
ir@nxstage.com
978-332-5923
Media Contact
Jim Weinrebe
Schwartz Communications, Inc.
nxstage@schwartz-pr.com
781-684-0770
SOURCE NxStage Medical, Inc.
Investor Relations, Kristen Sheppard of NxStage Medical, Inc.,
+1-978-332-5923, ir@nxstage.com; or Media, Jim Weinrebe of Schwartz
Communications, Inc., +1-781-684-0770, nxstage@schwartz-pr.com
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS174016+18-Sep-2009+PRN20090918