Fresenius Medical Care Receives FDA Clearance for Versi®HD with GuideMe Software

Fresenius Medical Care announces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for Versi®HD with GuideMe Software, a completely reinvented self-guided interface for the company’s VersiHD chronic home hemodialysis (HHD) system. VersiHD with GuideMe Software aims to transform the experience of HHD for patients and nurses.

As the established leader in HHD, NxStage from Fresenius Medical Care, draws on its experience of over 30 million patient treatments at home over nearly two decades, serving patients in more than 45,000 homes with a broad diversity of water sources across the U.S.

VersiHD with GuideMe Software provides graphical walk-through guidance that aims to enhance ease of use and confidence for both patients and nurses. It is designed to improve patient training time, ease the transition to home, and make the training experience easier for new users.

“With over 13,000 HHD patients in the U.S. alone, we are excited to amplify the innovation NxStage offers with advanced technologies, like VersiHD with GuideMe Software,” said Dr. Katarzyna Mazur-Hofsäß, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care’s Care Enablement segment. “We are committed to providing cutting-edge solutions to improve the health and well-being of dialysis patients by challenging the standard of home dialysis with the design of industry-leading products.”

“We expect VersiHD with GuideMe Software to further simplify home hemodialysis for patients during training and at home,” said Dr. Brigitte Schiller, Senior Vice President, Medical Officer, Home Therapies at Fresenius Medical Care. “As a result of this software upgrade, patients and their care partners will have additional support to be confident with the therapy at home. VersiHD with GuideMe Software will support Fresenius Medical Care’s mission of advancing access to home therapies to more patients.”

NxStage has had many significant innovations over the years guided by patient input starting with the first portable HHD machine, NxStage System One™, in 2005 followed by the introduction of the PureFlow™ DI Water Purification System in 2006. Nx2me Connected Health®, the first Connected Health platform for HHD followed in 2014. The NxStage System One was the first machine to receive FDA clearance for Nocturnal HHD indication in 2014 and also the first to receive FDA clearance for Solo HHD indication in 2017. In 2017, NxStage introduced the VersiHD touchscreen cycler. Over 95% of HHD patients in the U.S. use the NxStage HHD system.

VersiHD with GuideMe Software will initially be available in selected markets in 2023. Existing VersiHD systems will be upgradeable to GuideMe Software. For more information about VersiHD with GuideMe Software, please visit www.nxstage.com/hcp/versihdguideme

Despite the health benefits that home hemodialysis may provide to those with chronic kidney disease, this form of therapy is not for everyone. The reported benefits of home hemodialysis may not be experienced by all patients. The risks associated with hemodialysis treatments in any environment include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, fluid overload, low blood pressure, heart-related issues, and vascular access complications. The medical devices used in hemodialysis therapies may add additional risks including air entering the bloodstream and blood loss due to clotting or accidental disconnection of the blood tubing set. Certain risks are unique to the home. Treatments at home are done without the presence of medical personnel and on-site technical support. Patients and their partners must be trained on what to do and how to get medical or technical help if needed.