Kidney care is evolving faster than ever. New medicines, technologies, and research are opening doors that didn’t exist just a few years ago, giving you more options to protect your kidneys, manage symptoms, and improve quality of life. While many of these treatments are still being studied, knowing what’s on the horizon can help you have informed conversations with your care team and feel empowered about your future.*

Treatments to Slow CKD Progression

If you’re in the earlier stages of kidney disease, your doctor’s main goal is to prevent or delay kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRF) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). New medicines, especially SGLT2 inhibitors, are showing exciting results:

• Empagliflozin (SGLT2i): In recent studies, older adults with CKD experienced slower disease progression and fewer hospitalizations.
• Dapagliflozin (SGLT2i): This medicine could delay kidney failure by 6–7 years compared to standard care, giving people more time before dialysis or transplant. It’s also being studied in children with Alport syndrome.
• Ravulizumab: Currently being tested to protect against acute kidney injury during heart surgery by reducing inflammation.

These medicines are not right for everyone, so it’s important to ask your nephrologist if they could be part of your care.

Managing CKD Symptoms

CKD doesn’t just affect kidney function; it often brings difficult symptoms. Researchers are exploring new ways to manage them:

• Anemia: A new oral medicine, vadadustat, may replace injections for dialysis patients.
• Pruritus (itchy skin): A common and frustrating symptom of CKD. New therapies like Nemolizumab show rapid relief within 48 hours by blocking the chemicals that trigger itching.
• Hyperphosphatemia (high phosphorus): Oxylanthanum carbonate, under FDA review, is a new phosphate binder designed to block absorption from food.

Because symptom management and experiences vary from person to person, talk with your care team what’s currently recommended for your situation. 

Advances in Kidney Transplants

Over 103,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant, and not enough organs are available. Only about 1 in 3 people waiting received a transplant last year. Researchers are testing new options to expand access:

• Artificial kidneys: Lab-grown organs created from a patient’s own cells may eliminate rejection risk. These could be available by 2030.
• Xenotransplantation (pig kidneys): In 2025, the FDA approved clinical trials using genetically modified pig kidneys. A handful of patients have already received them, with promising outcomes.
• Immune tolerance therapies: Trials like MDR-101 are testing whether donor stem cells can “teach” the immune system to accept a new kidney, reducing or eliminating the need for lifelong anti-rejection drugs.
• 3D bioprinting: Researchers are creating living tissue models that could one day lead to custom-grown transplant organs.

While these breakthroughs are in development, they represent real hope for the future of transplant care. Speak to your transplant team to understand what options may be available to you. 

New Dialysis Options

Dialysis is lifesaving but often disruptive. New technologies aim to make it easier, convenient and accessible:

• Portable dialysis devices: Scientists at UNC-Chapel Hill are testing a device as small as a smartphone, powered by your own blood pressure. This could make dialysis more convenient and less time-consuming.
• Home hemodialysis machines: Advances in home-based systems now include remote monitoring and simpler user-friendly designs, giving patients more flexibility and independence.

Ask your care team whether home-based or newer dialysis options might be available to you.

The Role of Genetic Testing

Genetic testing is transforming how doctors diagnose and treat CKD. More than 600 genes have been linked to kidney disease, and testing can reveal rare causes or help personalize your care. Recent advances include:

• VNtyper tool: Detects variants in the MUC1 gene, which causes a rare inherited kidney disease.
• Risk score for African Americans: New tools predict CKD risk and highlight the role of gene-environment interactions in health disparities.
• Genetic map of kidney function: Over 1,000 genes linked to kidney health have been mapped, offering a “scorecard” to guide treatment.
• Targeted drug delivery (RENTAC): Delivers medicine directly to kidney cells, improving precision.
• Genetic testing helps identify CKD of unknown cause: Advanced sequencing identified genetic explanations in about 17% of adults, especially those diagnosed before age 50.

If you’re curious about testing, ask your nephrologist whether it could help clarify your diagnosis or inform treatment decisions.

Learn more about genetic testing and counseling here. 

Research in Rare Kidney Diseases

Rare conditions are often overlooked, but new treatments are on the way:

• APOL1-mediated kidney disease: Anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASOs) medicines are being explored by silencing the mutated APOL1 gene linked to higher CKD risk in African ancestry populations.
• IgA nephropathy (IgAN): Several new drugs (like atrasentan, zigakibart, and sibeprenlimab) are showing major promise in reducing proteinuria and protecting kidneys, with FDA decisions expected soon.
• FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis): Medicines like sparsentan and DMX-200 are under review for reducing proteinuria and slowing decline.
• Lupus nephritis: The VOCAL trial is testing voclosporin (an already approved medication for adults) in teens with lupus nephritis. This medicine helps protect the kidneys from damage by calming the immune system. And the SIRIUS-LN trial is studying an add-on to standard treatment that may reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. 

If you have a rare kidney condition, clinical trials may give you access to emerging therapies. Ask your care team about current options for you.

Staying Empowered

With so much innovation in kidney care, it’s easy to feel both hopeful and overwhelmed. Remember:

• Not every treatment is available yet, and many are still being studied.
• Your care team is your best resource for understanding what’s safe and appropriate for you now.
• Staying informed about new research can help you make empowered choices and prepare for future opportunities.

Kidney health care is entering a new era. The best you can do now is to take charge of your journey—learn about these innovations, ask your care team questions, and explore the options that may help you live healthier for longer.

*American Kidney Fund. (August 11, 2025) “Kidney Health Innovations” https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-health-innovations

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