Ardelyx Announces the First Recipients of Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award
Ardelyx (NASDAQ: ARDX) has announced the first recipients of the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award on World Kidney Day. The award, established in memory of Derek Forfang who passed away in 2023 due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) complications, recognizes outstanding leaders in CKD advocacy.
The inaugural recipients are Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield, and David M. White. Selected by Ardelyx's Derek Forfang Patient Advisory Council, these advocates were chosen for their significant contributions to the CKD community. The awardees will be honored at the upcoming National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings.
Each recipient has demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving patient care, healthcare policies, and awareness of kidney disease challenges. Their work spans various areas including patient education, health equity advocacy, policy reform, and research advancement.
Ardelyx (NASDAQ: ARDX) ha annunciato i primi destinatari del Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award in occasione della Giornata Mondiale del Rene. Il premio, istituito in memoria di Derek Forfang, scomparso nel 2023 a causa di complicazioni legate alla malattia renale cronica (MRC), riconosce i leader eccezionali nella difesa dei diritti dei pazienti affetti da MRC.
I destinatari inaugural sono Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield e David M. White. Selezionati dal Consiglio Consultivo dei Pazienti di Derek Forfang di Ardelyx, questi sostenitori sono stati scelti per i loro significativi contributi alla comunità della MRC. I premiati saranno onorati durante i prossimi Incontri Clinici Primaverili della National Kidney Foundation.
Ogni destinatario ha dimostrato un'eccezionale dedizione nel migliorare la cura dei pazienti, le politiche sanitarie e la consapevolezza delle sfide legate alle malattie renali. Il loro lavoro abbraccia vari ambiti, tra cui l'educazione dei pazienti, la difesa dell'equità sanitaria, la riforma delle politiche e il progresso nella ricerca.
Ardelyx (NASDAQ: ARDX) ha anunciado los primeros beneficiarios del Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award en el Día Mundial del Riñón. Este premio, establecido en memoria de Derek Forfang, quien falleció en 2023 debido a complicaciones de la enfermedad renal crónica (ERC), reconoce a líderes destacados en la defensa de los derechos de los pacientes con ERC.
Los beneficiarios inaugural son Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield y David M. White. Seleccionados por el Consejo Asesor de Pacientes Derek Forfang de Ardelyx, estos defensores fueron elegidos por sus significativas contribuciones a la comunidad de ERC. Los galardonados serán honrados en las próximas Reuniones Clínicas de Primavera de la National Kidney Foundation.
Cada beneficiario ha demostrado una dedicación excepcional para mejorar la atención al paciente, las políticas de salud y la concienciación sobre los desafíos de la enfermedad renal. Su trabajo abarca diversas áreas, incluyendo la educación de los pacientes, la defensa de la equidad en salud, la reforma de políticas y el avance en la investigación.
Ardelyx (NASDAQ: ARDX)는 세계 신장일에 데릭 포팡 환자 옹호자 상의 첫 수상자를 발표했습니다. 이 상은 2023년에 만성 신장 질환(CKD) 합병증으로 세상을 떠난 데릭 포팡을 기리기 위해 설립되었으며, CKD 옹호에서 뛰어난 리더들을 인정합니다.
첫 수상자는 Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield, 그리고 David M. White입니다. Ardelyx의 데릭 포팡 환자 자문 위원회에 의해 선정된 이 옹호자들은 CKD 커뮤니티에 대한 중요한 기여로 선택되었습니다. 수상자들은 다가오는 전국 신장 재단 봄 임상 회의에서 기념될 것입니다.
각 수상자는 환자 치료 개선, 의료 정책 및 신장 질환 문제에 대한 인식 향상을 위해 특별한 헌신을 보여주었습니다. 그들의 작업은 환자 교육, 건강 형평성 옹호, 정책 개혁 및 연구 발전 등 다양한 분야에 걸쳐 있습니다.
Ardelyx (NASDAQ: ARDX) a annoncé les premiers récipiendaires du Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award à l'occasion de la Journée Mondiale du Rein. Ce prix, établi en mémoire de Derek Forfang, décédé en 2023 des complications liées à une maladie rénale chronique (MRC), reconnaît les leaders exceptionnels dans la défense des droits des patients atteints de MRC.
Les récipiendaires inauguraux sont Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield et David M. White. Sélectionnés par le Conseil Consultatif des Patients Derek Forfang d'Ardelyx, ces défenseurs ont été choisis pour leurs contributions significatives à la communauté MRC. Les lauréats seront honorés lors des prochaines Réunions Cliniques de Printemps de la National Kidney Foundation.
Chaque récipiendaire a démontré un engagement exceptionnel à améliorer les soins aux patients, les politiques de santé et la sensibilisation aux défis des maladies rénales. Leur travail couvre divers domaines, y compris l'éducation des patients, la défense de l'équité en santé, la réforme des politiques et l'avancement de la recherche.
Ardelyx (NASDAQ: ARDX) hat die ersten Empfänger des Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award zum Welt-Nierentag bekannt gegeben. Der Preis, der zum Gedenken an Derek Forfang ins Leben gerufen wurde, der 2023 an den Folgen von Komplikationen bei chronischer Nierenerkrankung (CKD) verstorben ist, würdigt herausragende Führungspersönlichkeiten in der CKD-Advocacy.
Die ersten Empfänger sind Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield und David M. White. Diese Befürworter wurden vom Derek Forfang Patient Advisory Council von Ardelyx ausgewählt und für ihre bedeutenden Beiträge zur CKD-Community geehrt. Die Preisträger werden bei den bevorstehenden Frühjahrs-Klinikveranstaltungen der National Kidney Foundation gewürdigt.
Jeder Empfänger hat außergewöhnliches Engagement für die Verbesserung der Patientenversorgung, der Gesundheitspolitik und des Bewusstseins für die Herausforderungen von Nierenerkrankungen gezeigt. Ihre Arbeit umfasst verschiedene Bereiche, darunter Patientenaufklärung, Advocacy für Gesundheitsgleichheit, Reformen in der Politik und Fortschritte in der Forschung.
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Award established to recognize leaders in the field of chronic kidney disease advocacy
WALTHAM, Mass., March 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ardelyx, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARDX), a biopharmaceutical company founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative, first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs, is proud to announce on World Kidney Day that Mary Baliker, Erich Ditschman, Nichole Jefferson, Curtis Warfield and David M. White are the first recipients of the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award.
This award was established to honor Derek Forfang, who suffered from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and passed away due to issues related to his disease in 2023. Derek worked tirelessly to improve the lives of patients, families and caregivers in the CKD community. Candidates for the award were nominated by the community at large, with the recipients selected by Ardelyx’s Derek Forfang Patient Advisory Council based on their achievements and contributions to advocate for patients who suffer with CKD.
“Ardelyx is honored to recognize Mary, Erich, Nichole, Curtis and David as the first-ever recipients of the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award. These awardees are tireless champions for patients and are a great inspiration,” said Dr. Alan Ryan, Senior Director of Patient Advocacy at Ardelyx. “Like Derek, these individuals are committed to raising awareness of the challenges kidney patients face, and use their experience, their voice and their platform to advocate for the community.”
Recipients of the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award will be honored during a reception at the upcoming National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings.
Learn more about each of the recipients:
Mary Baliker has been a dedicated healthcare advocate for the past 40 years, and is involved in several kidney initiatives regionally, nationally and globally. Mary was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease at the age of nine and since then has undergone hemodialysis and received four kidney transplants. As a result of this life-long journey, Mary cherishes her life and possesses a strong desire to help improve the healthcare experience, health outcomes and quality of life for patients with kidney disease. In addition to publishing multiple peer reviewed articles related to the kidney patient experience, Mary is the author of Maria Never Gives Up, a story written to help children and families facing chronic illnesses. Her book is distributed across transplant and dialysis centers nationwide and is available for purchase online.
Erich Ditschman was a lifelong advocate for kidney patients, dedicating his time to mentorship, policy change and home dialysis education before his passing on New Year’s Day 2025. Erich worked tirelessly to empower patients, advance kidney care research and influence healthcare policies, including being a local leader in Michigan since 2002. He dedicated hundreds of hours to educating in-center dialysis patients about home dialysis, kidney transplants and palliative care. Erich co-founded one of the first home hemodialysis databases, which ultimately contributed to the founding of Home Dialyzors United.
Nichole Jefferson is a kidney transplant recipient and patient advocate dedicated to health equity, early detection and patient empowerment. Recognizing that transplantation is a treatment, not a cure, Nichole became a fierce advocate for underserved communities, policy change and patient education. As a mentor, speaker and leader, Nichole works to advance home dialysis and systemic kidney healthcare improvements.
Curtis Warfield is a kidney transplant recipient and advocate for health equity, policy reform and patient education. Diagnosed with with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 2012, Curtis received a kidney transplant in 2016 and has since worked to ensure patient voices shape kidney care policies. He advocates on Capitol Hill and in his home state of Indiana and serves on key task forces and research panels. Curtis has been recognized for his efforts with the 2021 NKF Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award and 2019 NKF of Indiana Patient Volunteer Award.
David M. (Dave) White is a grateful kidney transplant recipient and patient engagement leader focused on health equity, patient empowerment and systemic kidney care reform. Dave actively collaborates with government agencies, research groups and quality improvement organizations to ensure patients' voices shape healthcare decisions, championing policy change to improve outcomes for the CKD community.
About Ardelyx
Ardelyx was founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative, first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs. Ardelyx has two commercial products approved in the United States, IBSRELA® (tenapanor) and XPHOZAH® (tenapanor). Ardelyx has agreements for the development and commercialization of tenapanor outside of the U.S. Kyowa Kirin commercializes PHOZEVEL® (tenapanor) for hyperphosphatemia in Japan. A New Drug Application for tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia has been approved in China with Fosun Pharma. Knight Therapeutics commercializes IBSRELA in Canada. For more information, please visit https://ardelyx.com/ and connect with us on X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.
Investor and Media Contact:
Caitlin Lowie
clowie@ardelyx.com
FAQ
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