Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the kidney's tiny filtering units (glomeruli) that can cause protein in the urine, blood in the urine, high blood pressure, and progressive kidney failure. It comes in many forms — some caused by autoimmune diseases, some by infections, and some of unknown cause.
What's actually going on in research
Complement pathway inhibitors are transforming treatment of several glomerulonephritis types: avacopan improved outcomes in ANCA vasculitis, and trials are underway for C3 glomerulopathy and lupus nephritis. Rituximab and other B-cell depleting antibodies are being tested and refined for membranous nephropathy and ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. Sparsentan, which blocks both endothelin and angiotensin receptors, is being developed for IgA nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
Complement inhibitors
Drugs blocking the complement cascade at different points (C5, C3, Factor D) are transforming ANCA vasculitis, C3 glomerulopathy, and being tested in other complement-driven kidney diseases.
B-cell depletion
Rituximab and newer anti-CD20 antibodies are being compared with standard immunosuppression for membranous nephropathy, ANCA vasculitis, and lupus nephritis.
Dual endothelin-angiotensin blockade
Sparsentan blocks two pathways that drive glomerular damage and proteinuria, with trials showing significant reduction in protein leak in IgA nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on glomerulonephritis subtype confirmed by biopsy, proteinuria level, eGFR, serologic markers (ANCA, anti-GBM, complement levels), and prior immunosuppression.
What types of trials are currently open
- Immunosuppression trials — Testing new immunotherapy regimens for autoimmune glomerulonephritis types.
- Complement inhibitor trials — Evaluating complement-blocking drugs across multiple glomerulonephritis subtypes.
- IgA nephropathy trials — Testing targeted sparsentan and other specific therapies for this common glomerulonephritis subtype.
- Lupus nephritis trials — Testing new biologics and combination immunosuppression for lupus kidney disease.
- Supportive care trials — Optimizing blood pressure control, proteinuria reduction, and slowing progression to kidney failure.
Recently added Glomerulonephritis trials
SELECT-SLE: Biomarker-Guided CAR-T Target Selection for Refractory Lupus
study evaluates a biomarker-guided strategy to assign adults with refractory SLE to autologous CAR-T therapy targeting either CD19 or BCMA. Participants undergo centralized screening immunophenotyping to determine whether their disease appears B-cell-dominant (CD19-preferred) or plasma-cell-dominant (BCMA-preferred), followed by leukapheresis, lymphodepletion, and a single CAR-T infusion. The main goals are to assess safety, determine a recommended Phase 2 dose within each arm, and estimate remission rates by Week 24.
Chinese Adults With Kidney Disease
This is a Phase 2 study to assess the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics of ADX-038 in adults with complement-mediated kidney diseases. The study will enroll Chinese adults with IgA nephropathy, complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN). The study will evaluate ADX-038 administered alone (Part A) and in combination with telitacicept (Part B).
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