Fresenius Medical Care North America announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DELFLEX® peritoneal dialysis solutions in Biofine®, an innovative bag material. The milestone marks another important step in the company’s commitment to grow home dialysis through new and improved products. Biofine material generates less waste and is PVC-free, to the benefit of the environment. The new Biofine peritoneal dialysis solutions bag has a user-friendly design for easy storage and use, and will be produced on a new manufacturing line in the company’s Knoxville, Tennessee plant. It is expected to be made available first to a limited number of U.S. patients this fall.

Contact

Head of Corporate Communications
T +49 (0) 6172 608-96008
pr-fre@fresenius.com

Documents

Text as PDF document (PDF, 144 KB)

• Wolfgang Kirsch nominated to become Chairman of Supervisory Board at close of Annual General Meeting in May 2021
• Dr. Gerd Krick to be named Honorary Chairman of Supervisory Board
• Michael Sen nominated to Supervisory Board, designated to take over from Klaus-Peter Müller as Chairman of Audit Committee
• Contract of CEO Stephan Sturm extended for additional five years

Wolfgang Kirsch, 65, a Member of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE since the start of this year, is to become the board’s Chairman. This was decided unanimously today by the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE. At the Annual General Meeting in May 2021 he will also stand for election to the Supervisory Board of the publicly listed Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, with the goal of assuming its chairmanship, as well. In both these posts, Wolfgang Kirsch is to succeed Dr. Gerd Krick, 82, who is not standing for reelection and will leave both Supervisory Boards when the term ends at the close of the Annual General Meeting.

In recognition and deep appreciation of his long decades of accomplishment and invaluable work on behalf of Fresenius, Dr. Krick shall be named Honorary Chairman of both Supervisory Boards.

Also at the Annual General Meeting in 2021, Michael Sen, 51, formerly a member of the Management Board of Siemens AG, will stand for election as a Member of the Supervisory Boards of Fresenius Management SE and Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA with the goal of taking over as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Klaus-Peter Müller, 76, will be stepping down from the Supervisory Boards at the end of his term.

The Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE also decided unanimously today to appoint Stephan Sturm, 57, to an additional five years as Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius. Stephan Sturm has been CEO of Fresenius since July 1, 2016, having previously served 11 and a half years as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

Dr. Krick has held top positions at Fresenius for 45 years, ever since joining the former Dr. E. Fresenius KG as Managing Director for research & development, production and technology in 1975. This was the beginning of a hugely successful period in which Dr. Krick, who holds a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering, played a leading role in developing the company’s first dialyzers and balanced dialysis machines, and helped make dialysis-related activities a core business of Fresenius. These opened the way for the impressive growth achieved by the company, which he steadily drove forward as CEO between 1992 and 2003 and since then as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius AG, now Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA.

The founding of both Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of products and services for people with chronic kidney failure, and of Fresenius Kabi bear Dr. Krick’s signature. Fresenius’ entry into the hospital business, today under Fresenius Helios, and the acquisition of VAMED AG were further important strategic steps that were undertaken by Dr. Krick. Since May 2010, he has also served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE, following its establishment as part of the company’s change of legal form.

Dr. Gerd Krick said: “I feel great joy when I see the very impressive development of this unique company, to which I have had the privilege of contributing. I am grateful for the years-long teamwork with countless dedicated and talented people at Fresenius, and what we built together: A healthcare group of global importance. Through my role as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board, I will remain closely connected with Fresenius.”

“Fresenius is very well equipped for the future, and it remains in the best of hands,” Dr. Krick continued. “With Wolfgang Kirsch, with whom I have worked closely and very trustfully since the start of this year, a very experienced expert, particularly in financial matters, will be succeeding me as Chairman of both of our Supervisory Boards. And with Stephan Sturm we have at the head of our Management Board an executive who has been central to designing and executing the strategy that has brought continued growth over many years, and who enjoys the complete confidence of the Supervisory Board. Together with his Management Board colleagues, he will continue to pursue the successful course Fresenius has set. In the name of the Supervisory Board, I want to thank my close associate and companion of many years, Klaus-Peter Müller, for his tireless efforts and his many important contributions to our company’s success.”  

Wolfgang Kirsch, the newly designated Chairman of the Supervisory Board, has been a Member of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE since the start of 2020, and was for many years an advisor to the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation. He also holds positions in the Würth Group and on the board of AGCO Corporation, of Atlanta. After joining the Management Board of DZ BANK AG in Frankfurt in 2002, he served as Chief Executive Officer from September 2006 to December 2018. The August 2016 merger of DZ BANK and WGZ BANK, to form the current DZ BANK, was carried out under Wolfgang Kirsch’s leadership. He began his career in 1975 as a trainee at Deutsche Bank before commencing studies in business administration at the University of Cologne. After graduating in 1981, Wolfgang Kirsch continued at Deutsche Bank, where he held a series of management positions through 2002, including in corporate and investment banking.

Klaus-Peter Müller has been a Member of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius SE (today Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA) since 2008 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee. Since 2010, he has also belonged to the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE. A highly regarded financial expert, Klaus-Peter Müller worked at Commerzbank AG from 1966 to 2008 and served from 2001 to 2008 as Chief Executive Officer.

Michael Sen was a member of the Management Board of Siemens AG, where he was responsible for the company’s healthcare and energy businesses, from April 2017 to March 2020. Previously, from 2015 to 2017, he held the position of Chief Financial Officer at E.ON SE. Michael Sen began his career at Siemens in Berlin, where he completed an apprenticeship before studying business administration at the Technical University in Berlin. After completing his studies, starting in 1996 he took on a range of projects and management responsibilities at Siemens, and from 2008 was Chief Financial Officer in the company’s Healthcare division before moving to E.ON.

• Wolfgang Kirsch nominated to become Chairman of Supervisory Board at close of Annual General Meeting in May 2021
• Dr. Gerd Krick to be named Honorary Chairman of Supervisory Board
• Michael Sen nominated to Supervisory Board, designated to take over from Klaus-Peter Müller as Chairman of Audit Committee
• Contract of CEO Stephan Sturm extended for additional five years

Wolfgang Kirsch, 65, a Member of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE since the start of this year, is to become the board’s Chairman. This was decided unanimously today by the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE. At the Annual General Meeting in May 2021 he will also stand for election to the Supervisory Board of the publicly listed Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, with the goal of assuming its chairmanship, as well. In both these posts, Wolfgang Kirsch is to succeed Dr. Gerd Krick, 82, who is not standing for reelection and will leave both Supervisory Boards when the term ends at the close of the Annual General Meeting.

In recognition and deep appreciation of his long decades of accomplishment and invaluable work on behalf of Fresenius, Dr. Krick shall be named Honorary Chairman of both Supervisory Boards.

Also at the Annual General Meeting in 2021, Michael Sen, 51, formerly a member of the Management Board of Siemens AG, will stand for election as a Member of the Supervisory Boards of Fresenius Management SE and Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA with the goal of taking over as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Klaus-Peter Müller, 76, will be stepping down from the Supervisory Boards at the end of his term.

The Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE also decided unanimously today to appoint Stephan Sturm, 57, to an additional five years as Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius. Stephan Sturm has been CEO of Fresenius since July 1, 2016, having previously served 11 and a half years as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

Dr. Krick has held top positions at Fresenius for 45 years, ever since joining the former Dr. E. Fresenius KG as Managing Director for research & development, production and technology in 1975. This was the beginning of a hugely successful period in which Dr. Krick, who holds a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering, played a leading role in developing the company’s first dialyzers and balanced dialysis machines, and helped make dialysis-related activities a core business of Fresenius. These opened the way for the impressive growth achieved by the company, which he steadily drove forward as CEO between 1992 and 2003 and since then as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius AG, now Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA.

The founding of both Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of products and services for people with chronic kidney failure, and of Fresenius Kabi bear Dr. Krick’s signature. Fresenius’ entry into the hospital business, today under Fresenius Helios, and the acquisition of VAMED AG were further important strategic steps that were undertaken by Dr. Krick. Since May 2010, he has also served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE, following its establishment as part of the company’s change of legal form.

Dr. Gerd Krick said: “I feel great joy when I see the very impressive development of this unique company, to which I have had the privilege of contributing. I am grateful for the years-long teamwork with countless dedicated and talented people at Fresenius, and what we built together: A healthcare group of global importance. Through my role as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board, I will remain closely connected with Fresenius.”

“Fresenius is very well equipped for the future, and it remains in the best of hands,” Dr. Krick continued. “With Wolfgang Kirsch, with whom I have worked closely and very trustfully since the start of this year, a very experienced expert, particularly in financial matters, will be succeeding me as Chairman of both of our Supervisory Boards. And with Stephan Sturm we have at the head of our Management Board an executive who has been central to designing and executing the strategy that has brought continued growth over many years, and who enjoys the complete confidence of the Supervisory Board. Together with his Management Board colleagues, he will continue to pursue the successful course Fresenius has set. In the name of the Supervisory Board, I want to thank my close associate and companion of many years, Klaus-Peter Müller, for his tireless efforts and his many important contributions to our company’s success.”  

Wolfgang Kirsch, the newly designated Chairman of the Supervisory Board, has been a Member of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE since the start of 2020, and was for many years an advisor to the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation. He also holds positions in the Würth Group and on the board of AGCO Corporation, of Atlanta. After joining the Management Board of DZ BANK AG in Frankfurt in 2002, he served as Chief Executive Officer from September 2006 to December 2018. The August 2016 merger of DZ BANK and WGZ BANK, to form the current DZ BANK, was carried out under Wolfgang Kirsch’s leadership. He began his career in 1975 as a trainee at Deutsche Bank before commencing studies in business administration at the University of Cologne. After graduating in 1981, Wolfgang Kirsch continued at Deutsche Bank, where he held a series of management positions through 2002, including in corporate and investment banking.

Klaus-Peter Müller has been a Member of the Supervisory Board of Fresenius SE (today Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA) since 2008 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee. Since 2010, he has also belonged to the Supervisory Board of Fresenius Management SE. A highly regarded financial expert, Klaus-Peter Müller worked at Commerzbank AG from 1966 to 2008 and served from 2001 to 2008 as Chief Executive Officer.

Michael Sen was a member of the Management Board of Siemens AG, where he was responsible for the company’s healthcare and energy businesses, from April 2017 to March 2020. Previously, from 2015 to 2017, he held the position of Chief Financial Officer at E.ON SE. Michael Sen began his career at Siemens in Berlin, where he completed an apprenticeship before studying business administration at the Technical University in Munich. After completing his studies, starting in 1996 he took on a range of projects and management responsibilities at Siemens, and from 2008 was Chief Financial Officer in the company’s Healthcare division before moving to E.ON.

As part of its reporting on quality standards, Fresenius Helios is publishing data on the length of patient stays, patient security and antibiotic use in the company’s German hospitals for the first time. Data from every Helios hospital is compiled in a total of 46 quality categories, including the frequency of surgical interventions and their results, and then published annually. The comparing of different hospitals’ statistics through the Quality Medicine Initiative yields specific, concrete improvements that can be implemented in day-to-day hospital operations. The initiative, which was jointly founded by Fresenius Helios, now includes more than 400 hospitals in Germany and Switzerland.

As part of its reporting on quality standards, Fresenius Helios is publishing data on the length of patient stays, patient security and antibiotic use in the company’s German hospitals for the first time. Data from every Helios hospital is compiled in a total of 46 quality categories, including the frequency of surgical interventions and their results, and then published annually. The comparing of different hospitals’ statistics through the Quality Medicine Initiative yields specific, concrete improvements that can be implemented in day-to-day hospital operations. The initiative, which was jointly founded by Fresenius Helios, now includes more than 400 hospitals in Germany and Switzerland.

Diprivan® (Propofol) injection, an anesthetic, is the company’s first smart-labeled product with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and the 20 mL vial is now available in this enhanced presentation in the U.S. The smart label enables hospitals to automatically identify, locate and manage their inventory. Fresenius Kabi expects to introduce numerous other products with RFID technology in the coming year.

Diprivan® (Propofol) injection, an anesthetic, is the company’s first smart-labeled product with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and the 20 mL vial is now available in this enhanced presentation in the U.S. The smart label enables hospitals to automatically identify, locate and manage their inventory. Fresenius Kabi expects to introduce numerous other products with RFID technology in the coming year.

Contact

Head of Corporate Communications
T +49 (0) 6172 608-96008
pr-fre@fresenius.com

Documents

Text as PDF document (PDF, 83 KB)

Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of products and services for people with chronic kidney failure, is excellently positioned for continued, sustainable growth. At today’s virtual-only Capital Markets Day, management presented the company’s new growth strategy and a new medium-term outlook for the coming five years to analysts and investors.

Fresenius Medical Care aims to much more closely mesh, over the entire path of the illness, the still highly fragmented treatments provided to chronic and critical kidney disease patients. For this purpose, the company will leverage even more effectively its core competencies in the innovation of products, operating outpatient facilities, standardizing medical procedures and efficiently coordinating patients. 

The new strategy embraces three major areas. The first area, the Renal Care Continuum, puts dialysis products and services at its core and is enhanced by four components: 

New renal care models: Using digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and the capability to analyze huge amounts of data, Fresenius Medical Care is working to develop new forms of renal therapy. These include, for example, personalized medicine or holistic home care.

Value-based care: Drawing on its comprehensive experience in disease management, the company will push forward with the transition from a fee-for-service payment model to pay-for-performance models, in order to offer care that is even better and is also sustainably affordable.

Chronic kidney disease and transplantation: Fresenius Medical Care’s offerings in the area of value-based care models will be expanded beyond dialysis to the treatment of chronic kidney disease as well as an active role in the area of kidney transplantation.

Renal care innovations: The company will continue to advance its development of renal care innovations and invest in start-ups and early-stage companies in the healthcare sector.

The second area is Critical care solutions. Fresenius Medical Care will extend its critical care portfolio to other extracorporeal intensive care therapy areas, such as the treatment of heart, lung and multi-organ failure.

The third area is Complementary assets. To leverage its existing network and create an additional basis for future growth, the company will further expand its network of complementary assets through partnerships, investments and acquisitions.

The new strategy is embedded in the company’s Global Sustainability Program, which was launched last year. This program is under the direct responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer, and Management Board compensation will be oriented to it.

Together with the new strategy, Fresenius Medical Care is announcing a new medium-term outlook through 2025. During the next five years, in constant currency and excluding special items, the company expects annual average increases in the mid-single-digit percentage range for revenue and in the upper-single-digit percentage range for net income. 

Rice Powell, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care, said during the opening of the Capital Markets Day: “The new strategy is our next logical step. It’s the next step up from our four core competencies, it’s a step up for our network – and it’s a step in our quest for even more valuable solutions for our patients as well as for payors and health care systems around the world.”

Presentations and other information material given at the Capital Markets Day will be available soon at: www.freseniusmedicalcare.com/en/investors/events-presentations/capital-markets-day/

Fresenius Medical Care North America announced a partnership with Livongo, the leading Applied Health Signals company in the U.S. This will enable the company to better deliver targeted, real-time care coordination services to patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) under value based care agreements with insurance providers and the federal government, as well as manage their comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. By deploying innovative technologies and services, the partnership allows patients to receive personalized interventions including remote monitoring, biometrics, education, nutrition, weight management, and emotional support, with the goal to improve outcomes, slow progression of CKD, and reduce the overall cost of care. With earlier intervention, the company also seeks to increase optimal dialysis starts, as well as offer earlier evaluation of transplantation and home dialysis options.