Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) has shared updates on its pipeline for kidney diseases, including IgA nephropathy (IgAN), primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), and APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD). The updates highlight the potential of Vertex’s investigational therapies, showcasing positive new data on povetacicept, a dual inhibitor of the BAFF and APRIL pathways, for treating IgAN and pMN. These findings were presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week Congress in San Diego, California, from October 23-27.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has announced exciting updates on its renal medicine pipeline, which now includes programs targeting APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Dr. Carmen Bozic, Vertex’s Chief Medical Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of povetacicept, highlighting new data that positions it as a promising therapy in IgAN and pMN, and emphasizing progress in AMKD and ADPKD.
Povetacicept in IgAN
Vertex presented data from a study involving 54 IgAN patients treated with povetacicept subcutaneously every four weeks. Results showed a significant 66% reduction in proteinuria for those receiving 80 mg, with 63% achieving clinical remission after 48 weeks. The treatment was well tolerated, with mostly mild or moderate adverse events. A Phase 3 trial, RAINIER, has been initiated for povetacicept in IgAN.
Povetacicept in pMN
In pMN patients treated with povetacicept, a 62% reduction in proteinuria was observed at 24 weeks, with 67% achieving partial clinical remission. Similar to IgAN, the treatment was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.
AMKD Developments
Vertex is advancing inaxaplin, an investigational oral small molecule aimed at AMKD. Enrollment for the Phase 3 AMPLITUDE trial is ongoing, with promising early data to be presented at the ASN conference.
About the Conditions
IgAN is a chronic kidney disease with no approved targeted therapies, affecting approximately 130,000 people in the U.S. pMN similarly lacks specific approved treatments and affects around 60,000 patients in the U.S. AMKD, caused by genetic variants, impacts around 100,000 people and is also without targeted therapies.
Vertex continues to innovate in renal medicine, aiming to address the underlying causes of these serious diseases and improve patient outcomes.
