Finding the best kidney disease treatment for South Asian patients

This trial is testing whether five different medications—oral prednisolone, gut-directed budesonide, mycophenolate mofetil, hydroxychloroquine, and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist—when added to standard kidney care, can slow the decline of kidney function in people with IgA nephropathy, a common type of kidney disease. Researchers are particularly focusing on South Asian patients because earlier studies showed that this condition tends to progress more rapidly in these populations. The trial will compare each medication against standard care alone to see which one works best over two years.

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary kidney disease in adults, and it progresses very quickly in South Asian populations—with about one in three patients experiencing a steep drop in kidney function within three years. While steroids have been used as treatment, recent trials showed their benefits fade over time, so researchers need to find more effective longer-term options.