Kidney Week 2025: New Research in Preserving Kidney Function
At the annual Kidney Week of the American Society of Nephrologists (ASN), the world’s largest kidney healthcare professional organization, new advances in research were highlighted. Over $35 million has been invested in research with the ASN, and there are many treatments in development for IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), with researchers actively investigating more than 20 different drugs.
Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a lifelong, progressive autoimmune kidney disease often diagnosed in young people aged 10-30 years old. The disease's rate of progression can vary, with some people going into remission while others rapidly progressing to needing dialysis or a kidney transplant. Factors like hypertension, persistent protein, and blood in the urine are linked to progression. Since a goal of treatment is to reduce hypertension and protein and/or blood in the urine, these factors are what researchers assess to show the effectiveness of an investigational drug.
In these studies, participants are given investigational drugs and are monitored for protein and blood in the urine. So far, the results of these studies are positive: there have been significant reductions in protein and blood in urine, signs that the progression has been slowed. In some studies, reductions were maintained after the last dose of the study medication was given to the continuing participants. Throughout the course of these studies, all participants were also monitored for safety and side effects.
These new investigational therapies target the underlying causes of IgAN, and work on the early triggers of disease activity. Since IgAN is highly progressive but a ‘silent’ disease– detected by blood and urine tests without obvious symptoms early on–many patients already have some kidney damage by the time they’re diagnosed. By effectively treating them at early stages, the risk of renal failure – and the need for dialysis or transplant –can be avoided.
Sources:
Takeda Press Release: Y. Cui et al. The comprehensive analysis of clinical trials registration for IgA nephropathy therapy on ClinicalTrials.gov. RENAL FAILURE 2022; 44 (1):461–472. https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2025/new-data-mezagitamab/
Coppo R, D'Amico G. Factors predicting progression of IgA nephropathies. J Nephrol. 2005 Sep-Oct;18(5):503-12. PMID: 16299675.
