New York, New York — April 15, 2026 — Late-breaking APPLAUSE-IgAN final 24-month trial data to be presented at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings scheduled for May 6-10 in New Orleans demonstrates that an oral treatment, Iptacopan helps protect kidney function in people living with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) compared to placebo. Iptacopan is an inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway that is part of the immune system and is thought to injure the kidneys in IgAN. The interim 9-month data analysis of the present trial showed a significant 38.3% reduction in proteinuria compared to placebo. The basis of the interim findings, presented at SCM24, resulted in accelerated Iptacopan approval by the Food and Drug Administration for the IgAN indication. Kidney function outcomes were highly anticipated.
In APPLAUSE-IgAN Phase III randomized controlled trial, patients taking Iptacopan 200 mg twice daily experienced significantly slower kidney function decline (difference about 3ml/min/1.73m2 less eGFR loss per year) as the primary outcome. Treated patients were also 43% less likely to reach a composite kidney outcome that included kidney failure with replacement therapy, dialysis, or transplant, compared to those receiving a placebo over two years.
The treatment was also more likely to improve key signs of the disease, including lowering proteinuria and eliminating microscopic blood in the urine. About 41% of people treated with iptacopan reached a proteinuria level of less than 1,000 mg/g by 24 months, compared to 24.0% of those treated with placebo. Iptacopan was well tolerated, with similar side effects to placebo, and no deaths reported.
“These results show that iptacopan not only improves markers of disease activity but can also meaningfully slow the loss of kidney function over time,” said Brad Rovin, presenter of the study. “For people living with IgA nephropathy, this represents an important step toward changing the long-term course of the disease.”
The findings will be presented as part of a late-breaking oral session on Thursday, May 7, from 2:00pm to 3:30pm, at the NKF Spring Clinical Meetings, highlighting an exciting new treatment approach for chronic kidney disease caused by IgAN. Questions that remain include how Iptacopan may be best integrated with current treatment options and how to identify people living with IgAN who are most likely to benefit.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For over 30 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings is designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary and interprofessional healthcare teams' skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team. This year's NKF Spring Clinical Meetings will be held May 6 – 10, 2026, in New Orleans, LA.
Register to attend SCM26 in person or virtually via SMC On-demand. Registration can be found on the NFK Spring Clinical Meetings website.
For more information about SCM26, visit: https://www.kidney.org/spring-clinical
About Kidney Disease
In the United States, CKD remains an under-recognized public health burden that impacts 1 in 7 adults, and 90 percent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. adults are at risk for CKD, but less than 20% are assessed with guideline-recommended testing, eGFR and uACR. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to develop kidney failure. Hispanic and Native American people experience kidney failure at approximately double the rate of White people.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.
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Sam Tyler
National Kidney Foundation
Director of Professional and Scientific Communications
Phone: 202-279-1505
Email: sam.tyler@kidney.org