Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States because of the increased risk for cardiovascular mortality. The major functional cell type of the kidney, tubular epithelial cells (TECs), possess a limited ability to regenerate tissues. Infections can cause proximal G2/M cell cycle arrest, senescence and paracrine secretion of the profibrotic cytokines transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which stimulate extracellular matrix production ultimately leading to loss of the epithelial phenotype in TECs. Identification of targets controlling the G2/M cell cycle arrest in TECs may enable the development of therapeutics that can prevent CKD progression.
Cardiorenal SAS reported it has been granted a breakthrough device designation by the U.S. FDA for its Tenor at-home blood potassium measuring device. The Tenor smart device combines multiple technologies, app and cloud capabilities to assist patients with chronic kidney disease in measuring their blood potassium levels from home, obtaining results in under five minutes.
Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is one of the byproducts of protein methylation, and it has been previously identified as an independent cardiovascular risk factor in patients with chronic kidney disease. The majority of SDMA is excreted through renal tubules; however, its effect on kidney in pathological conditions is not fully understood. In a recent study, researchers from Shuguang Hospital aimed to investigate the role of SDMA in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
Fibrogen Inc. and its co-development partners for roxadustat, Astrazeneca plc and Astellas Pharma Inc., were dealt a major blow May 5 as the oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in a phase III trial in patients with anemia caused by transfusion-dependent lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Alebund Pharmaceuticals Ltd. raised ¥200 million (US$29 million) in a pre-C financing round to support the clinical trials of its candidates for kidney disease. It also secured $800 million through a syndicated bank loan to build a manufacturing facility for small-molecule drugs in the Chinese city of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, as it lays the groundwork for future commercialization.
Alebund Pharmaceuticals Ltd. raised ¥200 million (US$29 million) in a pre-C financing round to support the clinical trials of its candidates for kidney disease. It also secured $800 million through a syndicated bank loan to build a manufacturing facility for small-molecule drugs in the Chinese city of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, as it lays the groundwork for future commercialization.
The common pathological pathway in progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) is tissue fibrosis and chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) plays a key role in the development of fibrosis.
Reduction of renal tubular cell polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPT1) expression has been linked to renal tubular atrophy in chronic kidney disease, according to a new study. The research, published in Nature Communications, found that renal tubular cell PNPT1 reduction causes renal tubular atrophy by inhibiting protein synthesis.
With the U.S. FDA go-ahead Feb. 2 for GSK plc’s oral daprodustat for anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the picture brightened for would-be competitors in the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHI) inhibitor space, including high-profile Akebia Therapeutics Inc., which has appealed last spring’s the complete response letter from gatekeepers with regard to vadadustat.
Adhering to the recommendation of a mixed advisory committee vote, the U.S. FDA cleared use of GSK plc’s daprodustat as the first oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHI) inhibitor for treating anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis. For CKD patients not on dialysis, the agency determined the drug’s safety has not been established.
