A phase 3 clinical trial of ravulizumab in patients with IgA nephropathy has reached interim analysis, with results published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The New England Journal of Medicine has published interim findings from the I CAN trial, a phase 3 study examining ravulizumab as a treatment for IgA nephropathy — a condition where the body’s immune system damages the small filters inside the kidneys (glomeruli), gradually reducing their ability to clean the blood. The results were shared at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week conference.
IgA nephropathy is one of the most common forms of kidney disease caused by the immune system (glomerulonephritis). It occurs when a protein called immunoglobulin A builds up in the kidney filters, triggering inflammation and, over time, scarring. There’s currently no cure, and treatment options are limited — which is why phase 3 trial data draws attention from kidney specialists.
Ravulizumab works by blocking a part of the immune system called the complement pathway, which is thought to drive the kidney damage seen in this condition. It is already licensed in the UK for other rare conditions.
The New England Journal of Medicine is a peer-reviewed medical journal and one of the most cited sources in clinical medicine. Publication there, rather than in a conference abstract alone, means the data has passed independent expert review.
The full findings are contained in the published article. The interim analysis reported a 43.4% reduction in proteinuria compared with placebo at week 34, alongside data on remission rates, blood in the urine, and side effects.
Anyone concerned about kidney health, blood in the urine, or swelling around the ankles and eyes — symptoms the NHS associates with kidney problems — should contact their GP. For urgent concerns, NHS 111 is available around the clock.
Source: @NEJM