Advancements in kidney disease treatment and care models

Recent developments in nephrology highlight progress in both therapeutic interventions and healthcare delivery. Clinical trial data presented at ASN Kidney Week 2026 indicate significant efficacy for new treatments. In the phase 3 TELIGAN trial, telitacicept showed a slower eGFR decline in patients with IgA nephropathy compared to placebo. Additionally, the FIND-CKD trial demonstrated that finerenone slowed eGFR decline in non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, even when used alongside SGLT2 inhibitors. In transplant medicine, the phase 2 BESTOW trial suggested that tegoprubart may be more effective at preserving kidney function and improving quality of life than the standard care of tacrolimus.

Beyond clinical treatments, the CKD landscape is seeing shifts in healthcare administration. While emerging therapies such as endothelin A receptor antagonists and cell-based therapies are in development, the introduction of generic SGLT2 inhibitors is expected to impact costs. Furthermore, while five years of federal value-based kidney care models have improved dialysis and transplant transitions, changes to CMS models and payment rules are causing some practices to exit these programs.