Press Release

Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest provider of dialysis products and services, has established a subsidiary focusing on regenerative medicine. Unicyte AG will pursue research into kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and cancer, and will work with additional partners when needed to advance these projects.

Fresenius Medical Care has collaborated with the University of Turin since 2003. The first, groundbreaking result of their joint research under the direction of Prof. Giovanni Camussi, Scientific Director of the university's Torino Stem Cell Project, was the isolation and characterization of a human stem cell population from an adult liver. These liver stem cells are easy to isolate, capable of being multiplied without limit and transferrable into various other cell types, making them a potential option for regenerative medicine.

Further important discoveries were functional pancreatic islets (which mimic the function of pancreatic cells) for the treatment of diabetes, and stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (particles that support communication between cells) for the treatment of kidney and liver diseases as well as cancer. The first research results were converted recently into preclinical development projects.

On the basis of the successful partnership with Prof. Camussi, a leading expert on extracellular vesicles and stem cell research, Unicyte is continuing the joint research. The company will pursue the development projects up until the stage of clinical studies on humans. The long-term goal is to improve the lives of kidney and liver disease, diabetes and cancer patients.

Prof. Gianmaria Ajani, Rector of the University of Turin, stated: 'This is an outstanding example of collaboration between industry and science. It is not only driving the development of new technologies, but is providing an educational opportunity for young people. Unicyte will attract more international sponsors and investors, and in this way secure, long-term jobs can be created.'

Dr. Olaf Schermeier, Fresenius Medical Care's CEO for Global Research and Development, said: 'We are very excited to be extending our successful collaboration with Prof. Camussi and the University of Turin. This is the right point in time to focus the outstanding scientific research on indications where there is great medical need.'

Florian Jehle, CEO of Unicyte and Vice President, Technology & Innovation Management at Fresenius Medical Care, said: 'The establishment of Unicyte AG is the logical step to translate the existing research collaboration on stem cells and extracellular vesicles into clinical programs. In this way, Fresenius Medical Care is bundling its regenerative medicine research for selected indications.'

Prof. Camussi, Scientific Director of the Torino Stem Cell Project, stated: 'The expectations for stem cell research have grown in recent years, but a rigorous scientific process is essential to developing targeted therapies while maintaining ethical standards. To develop sound clinical applications, our research must be reproducible and scientifically verifiable.'

About Fresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which more than 2.8 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. Through its network of 3,432 dialysis clinics, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatments for 294,043 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the leading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers. Along with the core business, the company focuses on expanding the range of additional medical services in the field of care coordination.

About the University of Turin / MBC Turin

The Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC) at the University of Turin, active since September 2006, has the main objective to bring together investigators with different scientific backgrounds to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to biomedical research. The Center is actively involved in biotechnological research in the field of biomedical sciences, with specific focus on the study of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of physiopathological processes that have a great impact on human health, such as cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, cancer and stem cell biology. These research efforts are mainly based on the development of the most advanced molecular imaging technology, bioinformatic analysis and the generation of mouse and zebrafish models. For more information, visit http://www.mbc.unito.it/en.

About Unicyte AG

Unicyte AG is a preclinical stage regenerative medicine company with a focus on oncology, diabetes, and liver & kidney disorders. Unicyte evolved from a long-term research collaboration of Italy's University of Turin and Fresenius Medical Care. Unicyte is headquarted in Oberdorf NW, Switzerland, and is an independent affiliate of Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases. For more information visit the company's website at www.unicyte.ch.

Disclaimer

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

FMC - Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA published this content on 31 May 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 03 June 2016 14:26:10 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.freseniusmedicalcare.com/en/news/details/title/fresenius-medical-care-establishes-regenerative-medicine-subsidiary-to-continue-successful-work-with-university-of-turin/

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