IgA nephropathy can inflame the kidneys' filtering units and lead to protein in the urine. A phase 3 trial tested ravulizumab in adults whose condition continued despite standard treatment.
In the prespecified interim analysis of 352 participants, the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio fell by 46.6% at week 34 among those receiving ravulizumab, compared with 5.6% among those receiving a placebo. The adjusted ratio was 43.4% lower with the medicine.
The study was funded by Alexion, AstraZeneca's rare-disease unit. It measured a urine marker over 34 weeks, so the results do not yet show whether treatment slows kidney damage or improves long-term health.
