"....Lately, the focus seems to be on sending the recent kidney news to various kidney charities as a way to get publicity.....

....Spending time influencing this or that kidney foundation doesn't make sense unless those specific people have specific and clear contacts and direct influence with the key customer.   Unless that direct nexus is there, RVX would be wasting their time...."

I agree with your post (shocking I know).  Not to mention that it would be inappropriate to risk giving possible false hope to people that may not understand what a preliminary Phase I study is and isn't.