Novel therapies under development for nephrotic syndrome
Are there novel therapies for nephrotic syndrome that are under development?
Dietary interventions, such as a gluten-free diet, may be useful in a subset of children with MCNS. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody to CD20 on B-cells, is being tested in the full array of causes of nephrotic syndrome.
Abatacept, a monoclonal antibody to B7.1, has been shown to be effective in inducing remission of proteinuria in the open-label treatment of patients with FSGS and is being evaluated in an ongoing randomized clinical trial.
Strategies to prevent kidney fibrosis using thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone) and monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies (adalimumab) are under evaluation to protect the kidney in resistant forms of nephrotic syndrome.
The identification of a subgroup of patients with a specific disease mechanism may improve the likelihood of achieving a favorable response to therapeutic interventions targeted at the underlying pathophysiological cause.
