New Therapeutic Options Raise More Questions for IgA Nephropathy Treatment, With Sayna Norouzi, MD

Evidence shows a continually and rapidly expanding therapeutic landscape for patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Due to the heterogeneity of the disease, clinicians remain undecided about how to approach these options with the IgAN’s complex, individualized presentation.

“It's getting more and more complicated with having more options out there, and we still have ongoing clinical trials, and we recruit for these trials as well. We have to keep in mind that we don't have a cure for IgAN yet, and we're not done with this field,” Norouzi siad. “I think the next step for a lot of our colleagues who are not spending a lot of time with IgAN patients would be a referral to a glomerular disease clinic or center of excellence.”

At WCN, a plethora of data supporting positive progress in IgAN was presented. In a previous interview, Norouzi highlighted the emergence of targeted agents, including targeted-release budesonide, endothelin receptor antagonists like sparsentan and atrasentan, complement inhibitors such as iptacopan, and newer APRIL-targeting therapies. Together, these agents provide clinicians with multiple avenues to reduce proteinuria and preserve kidney function.

“When I go back from every conference that I attend to my clinic, my patients are excited. Sometimes I share with them that I'm going to a conference, and they know when I come back, I'm going to have more data, and they might have more options for their disease. And it's not just about IgAN. We're getting more options for C3G, lupus nephritis,” she concluded. “It's an exciting time to be a nephrologist.”

Editors’ note: Norouzi reports relevant disclosures with Calliditas, Travere, Apellis and others.