Veloxis Pharmaceuticals Chief Scientific Officer to Receive National Kidney Foundation’s Market Innovation Award

CARY, N.C., U.S.A. (March 28, 2024) – Ulf Meier-Kriesche, MD, FAST, Chief Scientific Officer of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, will receive the Market Innovation Award at the National Kidney Foundation’s 1st Annual North Carolina Honors Reception.

The event, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 28th at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, N.C., will raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and increase awareness about kidney health and the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. The reception will welcome more than 150 health professionals and advocates in the kidney community to honor three extraordinary individuals who have positively impacted the lives of kidney patients across the state.

In addition to honoring Dr. Meier-Kriesche, the NKF will also recognize Dr. Susan Massengill, Medical Director of Pediatric Nephrology at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, with the Clinical Excellence Award, and Alan Levy, Kidney Advocacy Committee Member and transplant recipient, with the Arthur P. Pasquarella Leadership in Action Award.

“I am proud and deeply honored to receive the National Kidney Foundation’s 2024 Market Innovation Award,” says Dr. Meier-Kriesche. “This award is a reflection of the incredible work and dedication of the entire Veloxis Pharmaceuticals team to develop cutting-edge therapies and programs to drive transplant innovation and improve the lives of patients in North Carolina and around the globe.”

Dr. Meier-Kriesche is a board-certified nephrologist with more than 20 years of practical clinical experience in transplantation. Over the course of his career, he has authored more 170 scientific publications that have appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine.

Prior to joining Veloxis in 2017, Dr. Meier-Kriesche held positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Astellas Pharma. He has practiced medicine in the United States, Germany and Italy, and his industry experience covers medical affairs, drug development and outcomes research in nephrology, gastroenterology, oncology, lupus and dermatology. Dr. Meier-Kriesche earned his medical degree at the University of Perugia in Italy and completed his specialty board in nephrology at the University of Cagliari.

“The National Kidney Foundation Serving the Carolinas is delighted to select Dr. Meier-Kriesche for our 2024 Market Innovation Award. His steadfast and impressive work alongside his decades of involvement in innovative approaches for those with kidney disease is why NKF selected him to receive this award,” says Ashby Andrews, Executive Director, NKF Serving the Carolinas. “Our community is grateful for his continued research and effort to help those suffering from the disease and welcomes the opportunity to follow his important work in the future.”

Veloxis Pharmaceuticals

Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, an Asahi Kasei company, is a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company committed to improving the lives of transplant patients. Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA, Veloxis is focused on the global development and commercialization of medications utilized by transplant patients and by patients with serious related diseases. For further information, please visit Veloxis.com.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 40,000 employees around the world, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Healthcare. Its healthcare operations include devices and systems for acute critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents. For further information, please visit Asahi-Kasei.com.

About the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the United States.