Every year, the American Society of Nephrology gathers kidney experts from around the world to share the newest breakthroughs in kidney care. Kidney Week 2025 showed just how fast treatments are improving, especially for conditions like IgA nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, Alport syndrome, and even transplant care.

Below is a simple, patient-friendly breakdown of 8 research updates worth knowing. These aren’t treatments available to everyone today, but they represent real progress and hope for the future.*

1. New IgA Nephropathy Treatment Shows Strong Early Results

Atacicept, a medication that targets immune signals involved in IgA buildup, reduced protein in the urine by nearly 46% in the ORIGIN 3 study.

Why it matters:

• Lower proteinuria is linked to slower kidney damage.
• Many patients also saw improvement in blood in the urine.
• Safety looked encouraging, with fewer serious side effects than placebo.

This could become another promising option for IgA nephropathy in the near future.

2. First Major Treatment Progress for Type 1 Diabetes + CKD in 30 Years

The FINE-ONE trial tested finerenone in people with type 1 diabetes and CKD, an understudied group.

Key results:

• 25% reduction in urine albumin in just 6 months.
• Most patients reached meaningful drops linked to slower CKD progression.
• Safety looked similar to earlier finerenone studies.

This is big news for a group that hasn’t had new kidney medications in decades.

3. Fish Oil Supplement Reduced Heart Problems in Dialysis Patients

The PISCES trial tested high-dose omega-3 supplements (EPA + DHA) in people on hemodialysis.

Findings:

• Cut major heart events by about half.
• Also lowered risks of stroke, heart attack, and heart-related death.
• No major safety concerns.

Since heart disease is the #1 cause of death in CKD and dialysis patients, this is a promising area of research.

4. Early Alport Syndrome Trial Shows Encouraging Signals

A small study of setanaxib in people with Alport syndrome showed:

• A 15% drop in urine protein vs placebo.
• Some patients had 25% or greater reductions.
• Benefits continued even four weeks after stopping the medication, suggesting a lasting effect.

Although early, this points to a new potential treatment direction.

5. New MN (Membranous Nephropathy) Treatment Outperformed Standard Therapy

MIL62, a CD20 antibody similar to rituximab, showed impressive results:

• Complete remission in nearly half of patients (versus 4% with cyclosporine).
• Faster remission, fewer relapses, and better kidney function over 76 weeks.
• Safety similar to standard treatment.

This could meaningfully change the standard of care for primary MN.

6. Another Dual BAFF/APRIL Blocker Shows Strong Proteinuria Reductions

Povetacicept, like atacicept, targets early immune pathways in IgAN and membranous nephropathy.

Results:

• 64% drop in proteinuria for IgAN.
• 82% drop in proteinuria for MN.
• High rates of remission and stable kidney function.
• No major infection risks observed.

This class of medications may reshape how doctors treat immune-driven kidney diseases.

7. Safer Transplant Care? New Drug Shows Promise

The BESTOW trial tested tegoprubart, a potential alternative to tacrolimus, the most common anti-rejection medication today.

What stood out:

• Kidney function at 1 year was similar between groups.
• Far fewer side effects with tegoprubart: less diabetes, tremor, delayed graft function, and fewer severe infections.

If confirmed in larger trials, tegoprubart could provide a safer way to protect transplanted kidneys.

8. Another IgA Nephropathy Therapy Hits Its Targets

Telitacicept, another BLyS/APRIL blocker, showed:

• Nearly 60% reduction in proteinuria.
• Many patients reached very low proteinuria levels.
• Kidney function stayed stable through 39 weeks.
• Lower risk of worsening kidney function.

This adds to growing evidence that targeting the immune system early may slow or stop IgAN progression.

Why This Matters for People Living With CKD

Kidney Week 2025 made one thing clear: We’re entering a new era where kidney disease may finally be slowed more effectively, and in some cases, possibly pushed toward remission.

While much of this research is still in trials, it represents real hope. If you have one of these conditions, talk with your doctor about:

• Whether any new medications may become available soon
• Clinical trial opportunities
• Whether you may benefit from updated testing or monitoring

And as always, stay connected with our CKD community, we’re here to help you navigate new science, new treatments, and new possibilities.

* HCPLive (November 22, 2025). “Kidney Week 2025 Recap: 8 Trial Updates to Know in Nephrology”. hcplive.com

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