Decline is not inevitable.
A daily, evidence-graded view of everything moving in kidney research : the drugs that slow decline, the science of regeneration, and the mind-body work.
Here's the combined overview: If you have stage 3 kidney disease, the biggest news is a wave of new trials just opening for kidney-protecting drugs like SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 medicines (including the new oral pill orforglipron), and finerenone—plus early results in two kidney diseases called membranous nephropathy and FSGS. Doctors also released updated 2025 and 2026 guidelines on treating anemia and, for children, nephrotic syndrome. Most of the rest was reviews, lab work, and organization web pages rather than new results in people.
Dapagliflozin preserves kidney function and reduces albuminuria in children with chronic kidney disease
This was a test of dapagliflozin, a diabetes drug that also protects kidneys, in children who already have chronic kidney disease. The drug helped keep their kidney filtering rate steadier and lowered the amount of protein leaking into their urine. Less protein in the urine is a good sign for the kidneys. The record we have does not list how many children took part or how long it ran, so the size of the benefit is not yet clear.
Is TRPC6 inhibition for FSGS a trick or a treat? — NephJC
This was an early trial of a drug called BI 764198 for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease that scars the kidney's filters. It was a phase 2 trial, meaning a small mid-stage test, and patients got either the drug or a dummy pill (placebo). The results were published in the Lancet. The excerpt we have does not include the final numbers, so how much it helped is not yet clear from our record.
Heir to the Throne? Obinutuzumab in the membranous nephropathy MAJESTY trial — NephJC
This trial compared two drugs, obinutuzumab and tacrolimus, for primary membranous nephropathy, a disease where the kidney's filters leak protein. Patients were randomly assigned to one drug or the other, and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Both drugs aim to calm the immune attack on the kidney. The excerpt we have does not list how many patients took part or which drug won, so that is not yet clear from our record.
Hepatic fibrosis severity assessed by FIB-4 index is independently associated with reduced kidney function in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a nationwide multicenter study from Türkiye.
In a large study across many hospitals in Türkiye, people with fatty liver disease who had more liver scarring also tended to have worse kidney function. This shows a link between the two, not proof that one causes the other. It suggests the liver and kidneys may worsen together in this condition.
Comparative effectiveness of finerenone versus steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists on sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy in patients with diabetic kidney disease: a real-world cohort study.
Finerenone is a drug that protects the kidneys and heart in people with diabetes-related kidney disease. This real-world study compared it with older drugs of a similar type for heart damage caused by severe infection. Because it just watched patients in normal care, it shows a link, not proof of cause.
The HFpEF-ABA Score, Incident Heart Failure, and Finerenone in Chronic Kidney Disease with Type 2 Diabetes.
This study tested a risk score for heart failure in people with kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, and how the drug finerenone fit in. Finerenone protects the kidneys and heart. As an analysis of existing data, it points to a link rather than proving cause.
Factors of Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Hospitalized Patients at Chud-ba in Parakou in 2026
This study looked at what made kidney disease get worse in hospital patients in Benin. It checked which factors lined up with faster decline. As an observational study, it shows links, not proof of cause.
Sex differences in epidemiology and clinical presentation of glomerular diseases in a nationwide Spanish biopsy registry
This study used a national kidney biopsy registry in Spain to compare glomerular kidney diseases in men and women. It found the types and how they show up differ by sex. It describes patterns and shows links, not cause.
Triglyceride–glucose index, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein across albuminuria stages in type 2 diabetes
In people with type 2 diabetes, this study checked blood markers of sugar, fat, and inflammation as protein in the urine got worse. Protein in the urine is a sign of kidney strain. The markers tracked with worse stages, showing a link, not cause.
Longitudinal patterns of kidney function in children with HIV: insights from group-based trajectory modeling
This study followed the kidney filtering rate of children living with HIV over several years. It sorted the children into groups by how their kidney function changed over time. Some children lost kidney function faster than others. Because it only watched what happened, it shows a link between HIV and kidney changes, not proof that one causes the other.
Study Sheds Light on Transportation Barriers in Dialysis and Why Patient Voices Matter
This large study looked at 115,982 adults in the United States who get dialysis at a clinic. It checked how a lack of reliable transportation gets in the way of their care. Many people struggle to get rides to their appointments. A study like this shows a link, not proof that missed rides cause worse health.
Spectrum of Anti–Factor B-Associated Glomerular Diseases in Adults
Some adults make an antibody that attacks a protein in the immune system called complement factor B. This study described the kidney diseases these adults had. It shows a link between the antibody and certain kidney problems, not proof that one causes the other.
Semaglutide/Acarbose combination protects against diabetic nephropathy in rats; a novel insight into modulation of Nrf-2/HO-1& TGF-β/Smad pathways.
In rats with diabetes-related kidney damage, a mix of semaglutide and acarbose protected the kidneys. It seemed to calm harmful pathways that drive scarring. This was done in rats, not people, so it is an early result.
Glomerular-Targeted Delivery of Low-Dose Prednisolone Attenuates Established Lupus Nephritis in MRL/lpr Mice
Researchers built a way to send a low dose of prednisolone, a steroid that calms inflammation, straight to the kidney's filters. In mice with lupus-related kidney disease, this eased damage that was already there. This was done in mice, not people, so it is an early finding. Aiming the drug at the kidney may lower the dose needed, but human tests have not happened yet.
Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Antifibrotic Nanotherapeutics for Chronic Kidney Disease.
Scientists engineered tiny particles made by stem cells to fight kidney scarring. This was lab research, done in cells or animals, not in people yet. It is an early step, so it does not yet show a treatment that works for patients.
Vascularization of Human iPSC-Derived Kidney Organoids Using Perfusion Culture, Pre-Vascularized Collagen Scaffolds, and Decellularized Extracellular Matrix.
Scientists grew tiny lab-made kidney tissues from stem cells and worked on giving them a blood supply. Building a blood supply is a key hurdle before such tissue could ever be useful. This is early lab work in the dish, not a treatment for people yet.
Inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway promotes AQP2 plasma membrane accumulation in renal epithelial cells by depolymerizing actin and reducing endocytosis
This lab study looked at how blocking a cell signal called Notch changes kidney cells. Blocking it moved more water channels (called AQP2) to the cell surface, which could affect how the kidney handles water. The work was done in kidney cells, not in people, and it has not been peer reviewed yet. It helps explain basic kidney biology rather than offering a treatment.
A Study of Eloralintide (LY3841136) in Participants With Renal Impairment and in Participants With Normal Renal Function
A study is starting to see how the body handles a drug called Eloralintide in people with kidney problems compared with healthy people. It is an early safety and dosing study, lasting about 14 weeks. There are no results yet.
EASi-KIDNEY™ (The Studies of Heart & Kidney Protection With BI 690517 in Combination With Empagliflozin)
A large trial is enrolling adults with chronic kidney disease who are at risk of getting worse. It tests a drug called BI 690517 added to empagliflozin, a kidney-protecting pill. People with and without diabetes can join. This study is just starting, so there are no results yet.
Self-Management Data and Disease Progression in Chronic Kidney Disease
This study will track people with chronic kidney disease who log their blood pressure, blood sugar, medicine, and diet in a phone app. It wants to see if steady self-tracking links to how the disease changes over time. It is just gathering data, so there are no results yet.