DaVita Leads the Way in Evaluating Middle Molecule Clearance with Two New Initiatives

New U.S. data will offer first-of-its-kind evidence in patients with kidney failure 

DENVER, Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita today announced the launch of two groundbreaking initiatives aimed to deepen the medical community's understanding of middle-molecule removal and its potential to improve outcomes for patients with kidney failure.

Research shows that when waste particles with larger molecular weight build up in the blood, patients may present higher inflammation and weakened immune response, which can contribute to adverse clinical outcomes. While benefits of middle-molecule removal have been studied internationally, there is limited evidence in the U.S. patient population. DaVita's new initiatives will be the first to generate U.S.-based data to inform care standards and improve outcomes for patients with kidney failure.

To better understand the role of middle-molecule clearance and impact on patients' outcomes, DaVita will launch two complementary evaluations that will explore the use of medium cut-off dialyzers in dialysis treatments. MODEL is a quality improvement initiative that will examine the survival of U.S. patients treated with medium cut-off dialyzers. The MEMOIRS survey is a prospective cohort study of patient-reported outcomes, comparing the experiences of patients treated with medium cut-off versus high-flux dialyzers.

"DaVita is committed to advancing the treatment of kidney failure through innovative science," said Francesca Tentori, MD, vice president of outcomes research and patient empowerment for DaVita. "By exploring how middle-molecule removal may influence long-term health as well as patients' experience of dialysis treatments, we're generating insights that will inform the future of dialysis care. This new data will provide nephrologists with much-needed evidence to prescribe the best treatment for each of their patients."

Together, the MODEL and MEMOIRS initiatives will include approximately 9,000 adults living with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) over the next two years. These large-scale reviews will investigate whether the removal of harder-to-clear waste molecules during dialysis can lead to measurable improvements in both clinical outcomes and patients' quality of life.

"At DaVita, we're persistently driving innovation across every stage of the kidney health journey. That includes reimagining how treatment can have an impact on quality of life — before, during and after treatment — so we can deliver safe, patient-centered, high-quality care," said Jeff Giullian, MD, chief medical officer for DaVita. "Now, we're spurring increased attention and momentum around treatment innovation that hasn't existed since the introduction of hemodialysis in 1945 — a breakthrough that fundamentally changed the trajectory of kidney care."

For more information visit DaVita.com/TreatmentInnovation

About DaVita Inc.
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. As a comprehensive kidney care provider, DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for 25 years. DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journey—from slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of June 30, 2025, DaVita served approximately 283,100 patients at 3,175 outpatient dialysis centers, of which 2,662 centers were located in the United States and 513 centers were located in 13 other countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, helped improve health access and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care community to adopt a higher quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.

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SOURCE DaVita