Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the kidney's filtering units, which can be triggered by infections, autoimmune disease, or other causes. Some forms resolve on their own, while others lead to chronic kidney disease. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include immunosuppressants, targeted therapies, or supportive care to protect kidney function.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing complement inhibitors that block specific immune proteins driving kidney damage, B-cell therapies that target antibody-producing cells, and new immunosuppressants with fewer side effects than steroids. Researchers are also studying biomarkers to predict which patients will progress and which treatments will work best for specific forms of glomerulonephritis.
Complement inhibitors
Drugs that block the complement system — a chain reaction of immune proteins — are showing promise in forms of glomerulonephritis driven by this pathway. Iptacopan and other complement blockers are being tested in IgA nephropathy and C3 glomerulopathy.
B-cell targeted therapies
Rituximab and newer B-cell therapies are being studied in membranous nephropathy and other antibody-driven forms. These drugs may work as well as traditional immunosuppressants with a different side effect profile.
Precision approaches
Genetic testing and kidney biopsy analysis are helping to identify which patients have specific molecular drivers of disease. This may allow matching patients to therapies that target their particular form of glomerulonephritis.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on the specific type of glomerulonephritis, kidney function level, amount of protein in the urine, and whether standard treatments have been tried.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing new immunosuppressants, complement inhibitors, or targeted therapies against standard treatments like steroids or cyclophosphamide.
- Combination therapy trials — Testing whether combining two drugs works better than one, or whether a new drug can reduce the need for steroids.
- Biomarker studies — Collecting blood and urine samples to find markers that predict disease progression or treatment response.
- Registry studies — Long-term follow-up of people with glomerulonephritis to understand natural history and real-world treatment outcomes.
- Biopsy studies — Analyzing kidney tissue to understand disease mechanisms and guide personalized treatment choices.
Recently added Glomerulonephritis trials
Pediatric Longitudinal Glomerular Disease: a PNRC Multi-Institutional Cohort Study
To review and collect information from a patients medical record in order to study and research how to help other children with glomerular diseases.
A Phase 3 Blinded Study of JADE101 in Participants With Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy
This Phase 3 study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of JADE101 compared with placebo in adults with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). The results will contribute to the overall clinical characterization of JADE101 in this patient population.
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