Fresenius Medical Care has agreed to purchase a 19% stake in medical research, discovery and development firm, Humacyte, for around $150m.

As per terms of the deal, Fresenius Medical Care will secure exclusive global rights to commercialize Humacyte’s Humacyl investigational human acellular vessel.

Fresenius will take responsibility for the marketing, sales and distribution of Humacyl bioengineered blood vessel technology.

Humacyl is an investigational human acellular vessel, which is currently being studied for vascular access for hemodialysis.

The trial is expected to prove that Humacyl is more effective than current synthetic grafts and fistula.

Fresenius said the deal will allow the company to provide Humacyte’s bioengineered human acellular vessels for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patient population across the globe.

Subject to customary closing conditions, the deal is expected to complete in the next month.

Fresenius Medical Care North America chief medical officer Dr Franklin Maddux said: “By partnering with Humacyte, Fresenius Medical Care has an opportunity to offer a dialysis vascular access option with the potential for significant clinical efficacy and safety improvements, including the potential to minimize catheter contact time to the benefit of our patients.

“Our exclusive rights to distribute this innovative technology to dialysis patients worldwide may have significant benefits not only to patients, but health systems as well.”

According to Fresenius, Humacyl is a novel human tissue-based investigational product for patients with ESRD requiring hemodialysis and it can be used in hemodialysis within weeks compared to an arteriovenous fistula.

At present, the bioengineered blood vessel is in phase III pivotal trials in the US and Europe. Based on the results of trials, the company is planning to apply for regulatory approvals in both regions.

Humacyte CEO and chairman Carrie Cox said: “This is a transformational milestone for Humacyte, giving us the world’s strongest partner to help bring our product to more patients globally.”