Gambro Announces Agreement to Acquire CHF Solutions, Inc.

DENVER, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Gambro and CHF Solutions, Inc. (CHF) announced today that Gambro has acquired CHF, a medical device company that manufactures and distributes ultrafiltration devices to treat fluid overload.

CHF's leading product is the proprietary Aquadex FlexFlow system, a mechanical pump and filter to treat fluid overload. The Aquadex FlexFlow system uses a simplified approach to ultrafiltration for the removal of salt and water in patients with fluid overload. Compared to renal replacement devices used for ultrafiltration, the Aquadex FlexFlow system is smaller and more portable. The system consists of a console, disposable circuit and disposable venous catheter that can be placed in either a central or peripheral location. Ultrafiltration with the system can be provided to patients in multiple treatment venues.

"Gambro and CHF share a common dedication to pioneering life-saving therapies for patients," says Nick Mendez, President of the Gambro Acute Business Unit. "This acquisition will enable Gambro to accelerate the adoption of ultrafiltration for fluid overload, thereby expanding our product offerings and providing a broader spectrum of care to patients. CHF brings a proven therapy, superior clinical results and established relationships with physicians."

"We are pleased to become part of a company that shares our commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative technologies," said David Springer, President and CEO of CHF Solutions, Inc. "We look forward, with Gambro's support, to continuing to expand access to ultrafiltration therapy for many more patients."

Fluid overload commonly accompanies many disorders, affecting both hospitalized patients and outpatients. In the advanced stages of many medical conditions, such as heart failure, liver failure and kidney disease, fluid overload is associated with significant morbidity and its management can be challenging. For example, fluid overload is the cause of the vast majority of heart failure hospitalizations, representing a significant burden to the U.S. hospital system. In addition, recent clinical studies have demonstrated fluid overload is an independent and significant contributor to mortality in hospitalized critically ill patients with sepsis.

About Ultrafiltration

Ultrafiltration is an extracorporeal treatment in which water, salt, and other blood constituents are removed by a filter. Ultrafiltration was first prescribed as a therapy for diuretic resistant patients more than 35 years ago and numerous subsequent studies have demonstrated clinical benefits in such patients.

CHF Solutions, Inc.

CHF Solutions, Inc. is a privately held manufacturer of innovative medical devices for the treatment of fluid overload and the developer of the Aquadex FlexFlow system. For more information, please visit: www.chfsolutions.com

Gambro

Gambro invented and developed the Prisma® and Prismaflex® systems to deliver highly advanced treatments for critically ill acute kidney injury patients (AKI) patients continuous requiring renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Gambro is a pioneer and global leader in the treatment of such patients. The Prisma® System, launched in 1995 in Europe and 1997 in the U.S., was the first automated, integrated system specifically designed to perform the complete range of CRRT modalities as well as therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). The Prismaflex® System, the next generation system for CRRT, was introduced in Europe in 2004 and in the U.S. in 2005.  

Gambro is a global medical technology company and a leader in developing, manufacturing and supplying products, therapies and services for In-center Care and Self-care hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Renal Intensive Care and Hepatic Care. Gambro was founded in 1964 and has more than 8,000 employees, production facilities in 9 countries, sales subsidiaries in more than 40 and sales in more than 100 countries.

SOURCE Gambro