Scientists from Showa University (SWU) in Tokyo have proven that a bardoxolone methyl-based drug can significantly slow down the progression of chronic kidney failure, XQ informs referring to Social Bites.

The work is available at ASN Kidney Week 2023, the world’s largest meeting of nephrologists.

The phase three AYAME clinical trial enrolled 1,013 patients with diabetic kidney disease without risk factors for heart failure. The average follow-up period was more than three years. The drug effectively slowed down the deterioration of kidney function and also contributed to the subsequent development of chronic kidney failure. Kidney health was assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate. Bardoxolone methyl activates the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, which helps protect cells from damage by reactive oxygen species.

The number of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure cases did not differ between the two groups. This indicates that the drug is safe for the heart. A previous phase 3 study showed bardoxolone methyl improved kidney function, but the study was stopped early due to increased cases of heart failure in the treatment group.

In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, kidney cells are damaged and their filtering capacity is reduced. This ultimately leads to the development of chronic renal failure, an incurable disease that requires strict adherence to diet and the use of many medications to maintain kidney function.