American Kidney Fund Expands 2021 Class of Corporate Members Committed to Fighting Kidney Disease

ROCKVILLE, Md. (May 25, 2021)  — The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced four new Members joining the 2021 class of its Corporate Membership Program. The Corporate Membership Program has provided AKF with nearly $500,000 in funding, which is being used for critical educational programming and the development of resources and information to help save the lives of those affected by kidney disease. AstraZeneca and Vertex Pharmaceuticals have joined as Patron-level Members, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals has joined as an Advocate-level Member, and Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has joined as a Friend-level Member.

"Our Corporate Membership Program provides AKF with funding that is indispensable as we work with and for patients, caregivers, living organ donors and health care providers in the fight against kidney disease," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and CEO. "We are proud to welcome the newest 2021 Corporate Members in our program and are grateful for their commitment to improve the lives of Americans living with and at risk for kidney disease."

The 2021 class of AKF Corporate Members now includes:

• Champion Level : Amgen and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Patron Level : Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ardelyx, Inc., AstraZeneca, Horizon Therapeutics plc, Mallinckrodt plc, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., Quest Diagnostics, Inc., Sanofi Genzyme and Vertex Pharmaceuticals
• Advocate Level : Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Chinook Therapeutics, Inc., Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Vifor Pharma Group
• Friend Level : Omeros Corporation, OPKO Health and Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

AKF has a long history of outstanding stewardship of the donated dollar, giving Corporate Members the confidence that their investment in AKF will have the maximum impact on the lives of those affected by kidney disease. With 97 cents of every donated dollar spent on patients and programs, not overhead, AKF directly touches the lives of more people with kidney disease than any other nonprofit. AKF received its 19th consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator in 2020, making it one of just three nonprofits nationwide to have received Charity Navigator's top rating every year since the rating system began.

The Corporate Membership Program is open to institutional partners that support AKF's mission of fighting kidney disease and helping people live healthier lives. For more information, contact Daniel Green, corporate engagement manager, at dgreen@kidneyfund.org or 301-984-6675.