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Kidney & Renal

IgA Nephropathy Clinical Trials and Treatments

Also called Berger disease, IgAN, IgA nephritis, mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis, Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy (IgAN, Berger disease) is a chronic kidney disease caused by deposition of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) antibodies in the glomerular mesangium. The disease involves a multi-hit pathogenesis: elevated levels of abnormally glycosylated IgA1, formation of autoantibodies against Gd-IgA1, immune complex formation, and mesangial deposition triggering inflammation and glomerular injury.

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About IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy (IgAN, Berger disease) is a chronic kidney disease caused by deposition of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) antibodies in the glomerular mesangium. The disease involves a multi-hit pathogenesis: elevated levels of abnormally glycosylated IgA1, formation of autoantibodies against Gd-IgA1, immune complex formation, and mesangial deposition triggering inflammation and glomerular injury.

The clinical course is highly variable. Some patients have benign recurrent episodes of visible hematuria with preserved kidney function, while others develop progressive proteinuria, hypertension, and declining GFR leading to end-stage kidney disease. Risk factors for progression include persistent proteinuria above 1g/day, hypertension, reduced GFR at diagnosis, and certain histologic features on kidney biopsy (Oxford MEST-C classification). Treatment has historically focused on blood pressure control with RAAS blockade and immunosuppression in selected cases. The FDA recently approved targeted complement inhibitors and endothelin receptor antagonists specifically for IgAN, marking a new era of disease-specific therapy. IgAN shares some clinical features with C3 glomerulopathy, another rare complement-mediated kidney disease, but the two are distinguished by kidney biopsy immunofluorescence patterns and require different therapeutic approaches.

Common Symptoms of IgA Nephropathy

Recognizing the signs of IgA Nephropathy early can lead to faster diagnosis and better outcomes. Symptoms may vary in severity from person to person. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following, consider speaking with a specialist.

  • Blood in the urine (hematuria), often visible during or after upper respiratory infections
  • Protein in the urine (proteinuria) detected on lab tests
  • Flank or abdominal pain during episodes of visible hematuria
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Swelling in hands and feet (edema) in advanced disease
  • Fatigue and general malaise as kidney function declines

Who IgA Nephropathy Affects

Most commonly diagnosed in the second and third decades of life (teens to 30s). About twice as common in males. Highest prevalence in East Asian populations (especially Japan, China, Korea), Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans. Lower prevalence in African populations. Family history of IgA nephropathy or other kidney diseases increases risk.

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FDA-Approved Treatments for IgA Nephropathy

There are currently 6 FDA-approved medications for IgA Nephropathy. These therapies represent the current standard of care and may be used alongside or compared against investigational treatments in active clinical trials.

budesonide (delayed-release)
Calliditas Therapeutics
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sparsentan
Travere Therapeutics
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atrasentan
Novartis
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atacicept
Vera Therapeutics
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sibeprenlimab
Otsuka Pharmaceutical
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Source: openFDA drug labeling data. This list may not include all treatments. Always consult your doctor.

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Help Paying for IgA Nephropathy Treatment

Charity funds and drugmaker programs for IgA Nephropathy, checked at the source. Pick your insurance to see what fits.

Your insurance
Charity funds
  • From a charity · NORD RareCare
    IgA Nephropathy Medical Assistance fund
    Open

    Pays for: Medical and medication costs.

    The foundation says: “Accepting new applications and re-enrollments for current year”
  • From a charity · NORD RareCare
    IgA Nephropathy Premium Copay Assistance fund
    Open

    Pays for: Insurance premiums and copays.

    The foundation says: “Accepting new applications and re-enrollments for current year”
  • From a charity · The Assistance Fund
    Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) fund
    Open

    Pays for: Copays, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses.

    The foundation says: “OPEN — Accepting New Patients. TAF is currently accepting new patient enrollments for this program.”
  • From a charity · IgA Nephropathy Foundation
    IgA Nephropathy Foundation Patient Aid Grant fund
    Apply directly

    Pays for: Out-of-pocket medical costs and non-medical costs of treatment such as childcare or transportation (Foundation membership required).

    The foundation says: “Status not shown on page”
Status as each foundation showed it on September 28, 2026.

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Side Effect Explorer

Real-world side effect reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Includes both FDA-approved drugs and investigational therapies from active clinical trials. Click any drug to see what patients reported.

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Genetic Testing

Genetic testing can confirm a diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, and identify family members who may be at risk.

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Trusted IgA Nephropathy Resources

Reputable organizations and medical references for learning more about IgA Nephropathy, including disease registries, foundation resources, and clinical guidelines.

FDA decision ahead
The FDA is due to decide on Povetacicept (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) for IgA nephropathy by November 30, 2026. Would join a fast-growing IgAN treatment field that had zero targeted therapies before December 2021.
The FDA is due to decide on Ultomiris (ravulizumab) (AstraZeneca (Alexion)) for IgA nephropathy in Q4 2026. Priority review; AstraZeneca has disclosed a Q4 window but no exact date.
See all upcoming rare disease FDA decisions →

Active Clinical Trials for IgA Nephropathy

Use this IgA Nephropathy clinical trial finder to see the 18 studies recruiting patients and 2 opening soon in the United States and worldwide, with eligibility criteria in plain English. These studies play a critical role in advancing care for kidney & renal conditions and may offer access to treatments not yet widely available. Each trial below is sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English to help patients and caregivers evaluate whether a study may be a fit.

TrialsSite mapPipeline timelineMedication checker

Note: Trial recruitment statuses on ClinicalTrials.gov may not immediately reflect recent FDA decisions, sponsor announcements, or enrollment changes. Always confirm a trial's current status directly with the study coordinator before making plans.

96 active trials worldwide
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RECRUITINGPHASE2Recently updatedNCT07541287

A Study of JADE101 in Participants With Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy

Intervention: JADE101

Sponsor: Jade Biosciences, Inc.

This open-label Phase 2 study will characterize the safety and efficacy of JADE101 in participants with IgA nephropathy, and the results will contribute to the overall clinical characterization of JADE101 in this patient population.

Ages 18 Years – 60 Years20 locations
Started May 2026Updated 4 days agoEst. Jan 2029 (~2y 4m)
NOT YET RECRUITINGPHASE2Recently updatedNCT07773727

A Study to Evaluate the Effect of ARGX-121 on the Change in Proteinuria in Adult Participants With IgAN

Intervention: ARGX-121, Placebo

Sponsor: argenx

The study will assess how ARGX-121 affects immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) disease outcomes, such as renal function, how it is distributed and eliminated from the body, and how the immune system responds in adults with IgAN.

Ages 18 Years+4 locations
Started Oct 2026Updated 6 days agoEst. Oct 2029 (~3y 1m)
NOT YET RECRUITINGPHASE4Recently updatedNCT07820995

Mechanistic Evaluation of Atrasentan in Patients With IgA Nephropathy (IgAN)

Intervention: atrasentan

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago · Novartis

This multicenter, single-arm, open-label Phase 4 pilot study evaluates the effects of atrasentan added to optimized supportive care on kidney structure and function in adults with biopsy-confirmed IgA nephropathy. 75 mg orally once daily for 52 weeks. Kidney multiparametric MRI i...

Ages 18 Years+1 location
Started Sep 2026Updated 1 week agoEst. Dec 2027 (~1y 3m)
RECRUITINGPHASE3Recently updatedNCT07498335

Study to Assess the Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerability of Atrasentan in Pediatric Patients With Primary IgAN

Intervention: Drug: Atrasentan

Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals

A Phase III, single-arm, multicenter pediatric clinical study evaluating atrasentan in children and adolescents aged 2 to <18 years with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).

Ages 2 Years – 18 Years12 locations
Started Aug 2026Updated 1 week agoEst. Sep 2031 (~4y 11m)
RECRUITINGPHASE3Recently updatedNCT06935357

A Study to Learn About the Effects of Felzartamab Infusions on Adults With Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN)

Intervention: Felzartamab, Placebo

Sponsor: Biogen

In this study, researchers will learn more about the use of felzartamab in participants with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). IgAN is a kidney disease caused by the buildup of an antibody called IgA in the kidneys over time. In people with IgAN, abnormal IgA and other antibod...

Ages 18 Years+261 locations
Started May 2025Updated 1 week agoEst. May 2027 (~8 months)
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Active trial locations99 cities in the US
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Trial Pipeline

Aug 2021 to Sep 2031
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Can I Join an IgA Nephropathy Clinical Trial While Taking My Current Medications?

This medication conflict checker helps IgA nephropathy patients find out if their current medications could affect clinical trial eligibility. Select one or more medications below to instantly screen active trials for potential conflicts.

IgAN treatment has changed dramatically in the past few years. Where patients used to rely mainly on blood pressure medications and immunosuppressants, there are now multiple FDA-approved therapies that target the specific mechanisms driving the disease: complement inhibitors, APRIL/BAFF pathway blockers, endothelin receptor antagonists, and targeted-release budesonide. Many patients are on a combination of these newer drugs plus standard RAAS blockade and SGLT2 inhibitors. Each clinical trial has its own rules about which medications you can continue and which ones require a washout period.

Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
Filspari (sparsentan), Vanrafia (atrasentan) — sparsentan is a dual endothelin/angiotensin blocker that replaces your ACE inhibitor or ARB. Atrasentan is a selective endothelin A blocker. Trials testing other IgAN mechanisms may exclude patients on these drugs or require a washout. Since sparsentan already blocks angiotensin receptors, patients taking it typically stop their separate ACE inhibitor or ARB.
Complement & APRIL/BAFF Inhibitors
Fabhalta (iptacopan), Voyxact (sibeprenlimab), Trutakna (atacicept) — these newer targeted therapies are the most actively studied drugs in IgAN trials right now. Trials comparing one mechanism to another will often exclude patients already on a competing targeted therapy. Iptacopan blocks complement factor B, while sibeprenlimab and atacicept target the APRIL/BAFF pathway that drives abnormal IgA production.
TARPEYO & Immunosuppressants
TARPEYO (targeted budesonide), prednisone, CellCept, Imuran, Rituxan, cyclosporine — targeted-release budesonide is IgAN-specific and may be required to wash out for 2-3 months. Systemic immunosuppressants like prednisone, mycophenolate, and rituximab are commonly excluded in trials, often with washout periods of 3 to 12 months depending on the drug.
Foundation Therapy (RAAS + SGLT2)
ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Farxiga, Jardiance — most IgAN trials actually require patients to be on stable, maximally-tolerated RAAS blockade for at least 12 weeks before enrollment. SGLT2 inhibitors are increasingly required as well. These foundation therapies are rarely the reason you'd be excluded from a trial.
Most trials require you to already be on RAAS blockade
Unlike many other diseases where medications get you excluded, IgAN trials typically require a stable dose of an ACE inhibitor or ARB (at the highest dose you can tolerate) for at least 12 weeks before screening. If you're not already on one, you may need to start before you can qualify. If the checker flags your ACE inhibitor or ARB, look at the excerpt carefully because it's more likely about dose stability requirements than an outright exclusion.
Sparsentan replaces your ACE inhibitor or ARB
Sparsentan (Filspari) blocks both endothelin and angiotensin II receptors, so it serves as your RAAS blocker. If you're on sparsentan, you should not also be taking a separate ACE inhibitor or ARB. Some trials that require stable RAAS blockade may accept sparsentan as fulfilling that requirement, while others may specifically exclude it. The checker will flag which trials mention sparsentan or endothelin antagonists in their criteria.
Your kidney function (eGFR) matters as much as your medications
Most IgAN trials require an eGFR of at least 30 mL/min, and many set the floor at 20 or 25. They also typically require proteinuria above 0.75 to 1 gram per day. Even if your medications don't conflict with a trial, your lab values are a critical part of eligibility. Bring your most recent blood work and urine protein results when you talk to a study team.
Don't see your medication listed?
The checker covers approximately 40 medications across 10 categories most relevant to IgAN patients: disease-specific therapies (sparsentan, iptacopan, sibeprenlimab, TARPEYO, and others), RAAS blockers, SGLT2 inhibitors, immunosuppressants, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, statins, and CKD-related treatments like ESAs and phosphate binders. If your medication isn't listed, that means we haven't found it commonly mentioned in IgAN trial exclusion criteria. You should still mention all medications to the study team when you contact them.
How the medication conflict checker works: This free tool helps IgA nephropathy patients learn if their current medications could affect clinical trial eligibility. It scans the published eligibility criteria of every active IgAN trial and flags which ones may exclude your specific treatment. Matches are categorized by confidence level: high confidence means the trial names your exact drug, medium confidence means it references your drug class, and low confidence means it uses broad category language that may or may not apply to you. Select one or more of your medications above to instantly see which trials you may still qualify for and which ones could be a problem. Always confirm eligibility directly with the study team, as final decisions involve your complete medical history, kidney biopsy findings, proteinuria levels, eGFR, and your nephrologist's assessment.

Across 1,853 open rare disease treatment trials, a third exclude people over a medication they commonly take. See which medications and diseases, in our September 2026 analysis.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Always talk to your doctor before considering a clinical trial.

Find an IgAN Specialist Near You

IgA nephropathy is a rare kidney disease, and not every nephrologist has seen many cases of it. The IgA Nephropathy Foundation built IgANCare, a free search tool that helps patients locate nephrologists with IgAN experience across the United States. Enter a ZIP code or city below to find a specialist near you.

IgANCare is a service of the IgA Nephropathy Foundation. Trial Friend embeds their finder so you can search without leaving this page. Having trouble loading the map?

Open IgANCare at igan.org →

Patient Communities

Connect with other IgA Nephropathy patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups across Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and YouTube channels. These patient communities offer peer support, shared experiences, caregiver resources, and real-time discussion about IgA Nephropathy treatments, clinical trial participation, and day-to-day disease management.

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Events

In-person and virtual events for IgA Nephropathy patients, caregivers, and families. Connect with the IgAN community, hear from leading nephrologists, learn about emerging treatments and clinical trials, and share your experience with others who understand the disease firsthand.

Washington, D.C.
IgA Nephropathy Foundation
IgA Nephropathy Foundation advocates holding a Raise Your Voice For Rare Kidney Disease banner in front of the U.S. Capitol
Featured EventSeptember 29 – October 1, 2026 · Washington, D.C.

Raise Your Voice For Rare Kidney Disease — IgAN Foundation Hill Day

Hosted by the IgA Nephropathy Foundation · U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

The IgA Nephropathy Foundation heads back to Washington, D.C. September 29 – October 1, 2026 for its 3rd Hill Day, bringing IgAN patients and family members face to face with lawmakers and their staff to advocate for the IgA Nephropathy community.

Each Congress, the Foundation advocates for federal legislation to improve treatment options, foster innovation, and increase research funding for IgAN patients and the kidney community. Participants share their personal stories to push for priorities that matter to people living with IgAN: research funding, earlier diagnosis, and equitable access to newly approved treatments. No prior advocacy experience is needed — the Foundation prepares attendees for their meetings. Participation is open to US-based Foundation members, and travel assistance is available.

If you can't travel to Washington, the Foundation's monthly virtual support groups continue year-round — including a Patient Support Group, a Caregiver & Care Partner group, and a Dialysis, Transplant & Post-Transplant group. Check the Foundation's events page for current dates and registration.

IgA Nephropathy Foundation
IgAN Aware Day and #IgANaware Spirit Week — IgA Nephropathy Foundation
Awareness WeekMay 14, 2027 (annual — Spirit Week surrounds it) · Virtual + Global

IgAN Aware Day and #IgANaware Spirit Week — Global IgA Nephropathy Awareness

Hosted by the IgA Nephropathy Foundation · Participate from anywhere · Free

IgAN Aware Day is celebrated every year on May 14, the anniversary of the IgA Nephropathy Foundation's founding by Ed and Bonnie Schneider. The day anchors a week-long global awareness campaign, #IgANaware Spirit Week, that brings the IgA Nephropathy community together to raise visibility of the disease, push for earlier detection, honor the people who support patients, and accelerate progress toward a cure. Exact Spirit Week dates for 2027 will be posted on the Foundation's IgAN Aware Day page.

Spirit Week gives IgAN patients, caregivers, family members, and clinicians a daily way to participate from anywhere in the world. Themes include Mind-Body Connection, IgAN Awareness Day, the Risk Quiz (critical for people of Asian descent, who face higher IgAN risk), a Day of Gratitude for care teams and kidney donors, a Looking Back, Moving Forward reflection, and an in-person and virtual Celebration Day. Participants share photos and stories on the IgAN Foundation's Kudo board and across social media using the hashtag #IgANaware.

IgAN Aware Day has earned official government proclamations recognizing May 14 as IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day in multiple U.S. states, including Georgia and Ohio in 2025, with additional state proclamations expected in 2026. These recognitions help elevate public understanding of IgA Nephropathy, a rare but leading cause of kidney failure, and support the Foundation's advocacy for research funding and equitable access to newly approved treatments.

You do not need to be an IgAN Foundation member to participate. Whether you are newly diagnosed, a long-time Warrior, a family member, a donor, a clinician, or a friend of someone with IgA Nephropathy, joining Spirit Week is one of the most visible ways to support earlier diagnosis and stronger patient outcomes for the global IgAN community.

Event details are sourced from the IgA Nephropathy Foundation at iganspark.org and igan.org/iganday. Dates, pricing, and programming are subject to change — please confirm current information on the official Foundation pages before making plans.

Related Kidney & Renal Conditions

Other rare diseases in the kidney & renal category. Patients with IgA Nephropathy may find relevant research, shared treatment pathways, or overlapping clinical trials among these related conditions.

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