Professor Dana Rizk, an Investigator and member of the APPLAUSE-IgAN Steering Committee, as well as a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Nephrology, emphasized the challenges in effectively treating IgA nephropathy due to its diverse and progressive nature. However, he expressed optimism about the evolving treatment landscape in addressing this disease. IgA nephropathy is a rare condition where the immune system attacks the kidneys, resulting in glomerular inflammation and proteinuria. Each individual’s disease progression varies, making treatment responses unique to each patient.
Despite the current standard of care, up to 50% of IgA nephropathy patients with persistent proteinuria face a risk of progressing to kidney failure within 10 to 20 years post-diagnosis, often necessitating dialysis or kidney transplantation. Different mechanisms of action in effective, targeted therapies can aid physicians in choosing the most suitable treatment for patients. The recently approved Fabhalta, as part of the Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN study, demonstrated a significant reduction in proteinuria compared to a placebo, along with a favorable safety profile.
Novartis, in its commitment to rare renal diseases, has developed innovative medicines such as Fabhalta for IgA nephropathy. The company is further advancing with the development of atrasentan and zigakibart for IgAN. Fabhalta is also being explored for other rare diseases like C3 glomerulopathy, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and lupus nephritis. Novartis aims to transform the lives of individuals with kidney diseases, ultimately reducing reliance on dialysis or transplantation.
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