PKD RESEARCH SUCCESS STORY CAN SERVE AS ROLE MODEL FOR NIH

                                       PKD Foundation CEO testifies before Congressional panel

(Kansas City) March 30, 2006 — “Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) research can serve as a model for the NIH to follow when setting standards to find treatments or cures for other serious, life threatening diseases,” said PKD Foundation President and CEO Dan Larson. Testifying before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, Larson highlighted unprecedented scientific momentum achieved in the field of Polycystic Kidney Disease.

PKD is the world’s most common life-threatening genetic disease, affecting 1 in 500 people regardless of sex, age, race or ethnic origin. For the 600,000 Americans suffering from PKD, fluid-filled cysts grow on the kidneys. Over time, these cysts get bigger and multiply, often leading to kidney failure. Dialysis and transplantation are the only options. Currently, there is no treatment and no cure, but there is hope.

This month, researchers found the drug rapamycin greatly reduces the size of enlarged kidneys in patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The drug is already prescribed to help prevent rejection of a new, transplanted kidney. Researchers hope to begin clinical trials soon.

This study comes on the heels of another exciting research announcement. In February, the Food and Drug Administration granted “Fast Track” designation for Tolvaptan, a potential treatment for PKD.

The not-for-profit PKD Foundation is the only organization, worldwide, dedicated to finding a treatment and a cure for this devastating disease. For more information about PKD and the PKD Foundation, visit www.pkdcure.org or call 1-800-PKD-CURE. March is National Kidney Month, and PKD patients across the country are available for interviews on the disease and potential treatments.