Press Releases

WellBound Study Shows Large Number of Patients Prefer "Home" Dialysis Therapies

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, February 28, 2006 – WellBound, a company that combines focused educational programs with self-care (home) dialysis therapies to improve the lives of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, today announced results of a study supporting increased adoption of self-care dialysis therapies. Study findings showed that when provided with early dialysis options education, a large number of patients chose a home-based therapy over traditional in-center hemodialysis. These findings were presented today at the Annual Dialysis Conference in San Francisco, CA.

"WellBound has long championed the belief that when properly educated and given a treatment choice, a large number of patients will select the clinical, quality of life and convenience benefits associated with self-care therapies," said John Moran, M.D., WellBound's chief medical officer and a leading expert on self-care dialysis. "We are excited to now have compelling data to support this position,"

As part of this study, WellBound analyzed the dialysis therapy selections of 576 patients after they received early education on all available treatment options, including conventional in-center hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (either CAPD or CCPD), renal transplant, and the various home hemodialysis regimens. Results showed that 42% of these patients selected a self-care (home) therapy. Of 206 patients who have completed training, 164 (80%) chose peritoneal dialysis and 42 (20%) home hemodialysis. Nationally, only 7% of all new dialysis patients select home dialysis as their therapy choice.

"Based on these findings, WellBound believes that the concept of early dialysis options education and the offering of all available treatment options should become integral components of standard CKD patient care," stated Dr. Moran. "We believe that doing so would greatly increase the number of patients receiving the clinical and quality of life benefits associated with these therapies."

In a separate study presented yesterday at the Annual Dialysis Conference, WellBound researchers showed that CKD patients undergoing short daily home hemodialysis, an innovative self-care therapy, experienced improved quality of life and reduced need for antihypertensive drugs after transferring from other dialysis therapies.

About Self-Care Dialysis
The term self-care dialysis refers to those dialysis therapies which patients are able to self-administer outside the confines of hemodialysis centers, including peritoneal dialysis and all types of home hemodialysis. A growing collection of clinical research clearly demonstrates that the more frequent, more consistent dialysis associated with self-care provides patients with improved health outcomes such as improved mortality rates and reduced hospitalizations. Home dialysis also offers significant quality of life advantages including greater convenience, more flexible schedules, and fewer fluid and dietary restrictions.

About WellBound
Founded in 2003, WellBound is an affiliate of dialysis industry leader Satellite Healthcare. The company is focused on improving the lives of chronic kidney disease patients by combining focused education programs with the delivery and support of self-care dialysis therapies. Teaming with partner nephrologists, WellBound prioritizes early CKD options and wellness education programs for patients before they require dialysis. This enables patients to maintain their health and potentially delay the need for dialysis.

Once dialysis is required, WellBound supports the entire spectrum of self-care treatments, including peritoneal dialysis and all types of daily home hemodialysis. The company works closely with physician partners to deliver more frequent and longer dialysis regimens than are possible at traditional in-center facilities. The result is improved clinical outcomes and a higher quality of life.

WellBound has established five operational self-care dialysis facilities and is actively engaged in expanding its "Centers of Excellence" network. To learn more about WellBound, please visit www.wellbound.com or contact the company directly at 1.800.476.5450.

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Contacts:
WellBound
Marc Branson
(650) 404-3613

Vida Communication
Stephanie Diaz
(415) 675-7400
Tim Brons (media)
(415) 675-7402