5 Nephrology Headlines You Missed in February 2026

The nephrology field continued to see advances in February 2026, with MAJESTY and TACITO trial updates, key insights into KDIGO guidelines for IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), along with featured content for Rare Disease Day and a 1-year look back at semaglutide (Ozempic) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

In terms of trial updates, these include results from phase 3 MAJESTY for primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) in patients treated with obinutuzumab (Gazyva) and new evidence from phase 2a TACITO trial of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) receiving pembrolizumab and axitinib.

In the studio, HCPLive’s content team sat down with Gerald Appel, MD, Co-Director of Clinical Nephrology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York, New York, and tenured Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, along with Luis Sanchez Russo, MD, transplant nephrologist at CEntral Florida Kidney Specialists to discuss the future of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in light of the 2025 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guidelines Updates for IgAN and IgA vasculitis.

Lastly, the editorial team for HCPLive nephrology curated features with experts in the field to commemorate Rare Disease Day 2026 and to dissect the impact of the 1-year of semaglutide by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CKD and T2D.

Follow along below to catch up on everything you missed in nephrology during February 2026!

Featured Content

1 Year After CKD Approval, Semaglutide Transforms Diabetes, Kidney, and Heart Care

FDA approval in T2D with CKD positioned semaglutid, marked as an important milestone as the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure, and death due to cardiovascular disease in these patient populations

Rare Disease Day 2026: Kidney Diseases Enter Optimistic Therapeutic Era

On Rare Disease Day 2026, 4 clinicians shared their insights and perspectives on the groundbreaking improvements in the rapidly evolving field of rare kidney diseases.

Despite persistent awareness gaps in rare kidney disease care, a wave of FDA approvals and phase 3 trial successes in IgAN and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), alongside updated 2025 KDIGO Practice Guidelines, has fueled growing clinician optimism about a rapidly advancing, disease-modifying treatment era.

Trial Updates

TACITO: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Improves Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Kidney Cancer

New evidence from the ​​phase 2a TACITO trial suggests FMT improves the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with advanced mRCC receiving pembrolizumab and axitinib, based on a hypothesis that transplanting favorable gut microbiome could enhance a patient’s response to immunotherapy.

MAJESTY: Obinutuzumab Achieves 2 Year Complete Remission in Primary Membranous Nephropathy

MAJESTY, the first global phase 3 study in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), met its primary endpoint of complete remission at 2 years with obinutuzumab (Gazyva).

Genentech announced the positive 2-year phase 3 results of obinutuzumab compared to tacrolimus on February 16, 2026, with the potential for the therapeutic to become the first approved treatment for PMN.

Guidelines

How the 2025 KDIGO Guidelines Are Personalizing IgA Nephropathy Care, With Gerald Appel, MD

The 2025 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of IgAN and IgAV, in tandem with the evolving therapeutic landscape, has introduced significant changes to clinical care, essentially individualizing treatment strategies.

From a clinician's perspective, the KDIGO guidelines for IgAN/IgAN has shifted management toward a more personalized approach, supported by a broader range of therapeutic options, combination strategies, and long-term patient-centered goals.