New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease affects about 37 million Americans, most from diabetes or high blood pressure. Treatment focuses on slowing progression, managing complications like anemia and bone disease, and preparing for dialysis or transplant if kidney function drops below 15%. New drugs have changed what's possible in the past five years.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing SGLT2 inhibitors that were first approved for diabetes but slow kidney decline across causes, finerenone and other drugs that block inflammation pathways, and new approaches to anemia, phosphate control, and itching. Researchers are also studying artificial kidney devices and ways to make transplant safer and more accessible.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on estimated kidney function (eGFR level), amount of protein in urine, cause of kidney disease, and whether you have diabetes or heart disease.

What types of trials are currently open

• Disease progression trials — Testing drugs to slow the rate at which kidney function declines, often measuring how long until dialysis or transplant is needed.
• Combination therapy trials — Testing whether combining SGLT2 inhibitors with finerenone or other drugs provides more protection than either alone.
• Anemia trials — Testing new treatments for kidney-related anemia, including pills that stimulate the body's own production of red blood cells.
• Transplant trials — Studies testing new immunosuppressive drugs, organ preservation methods, and ways to expand the donor pool.
• Dialysis device trials — Testing wearable or implantable artificial kidneys and improved dialysis methods.