Ep. 6 - B-cells vs. Complement in IgAN: A Look at the Data from Kidney Week 2024 (with Dr. Vlado Perkovic)

Principal Jeff Fineberg, PhD sits down with Vlado Perkovic, MBBS, PhD, to discuss the IgA nephropathy trial data presented at Kidney Week 2024 in San Diego. Jeff begins by asking Dr. Perkovic to talk about why targeting B-cells is an attractive target, and why BAFF/APRIL might prove more promising than CD20. The two then discuss the data with two agents in development for the treatment of IgAN, atacicept (targeting BAFF/APRIL) and sibeprenlimab (targeting APRIL only). The conversation then pivots to the prospect of complement inhibition with FABHALTA® (iptacopan) in IgA nephropathy, including a comparison of the strategy to target certain complement factors/pathways over others in IgAN. Finally, the discussion takes a broader lens to the evolving IgAN treatment landscape, that may include both of these novel therapeutic mechanisms, in addition to recently approved drugs FILSPARI® (sparsentan) and TARPEYO® (budesonide), as well as other CKD therapeutic classes, such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Vlado Perkovic Bio Vlado Perkovic is the Provost at UNSW Sydney and Scientia Professor at UNSW, and was previously the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health as well as Professorial Fellow at The George Institute, Australia, and a Staff Specialist in Nephrology at the Royal North Shore Hospital. His research focus is clinical trials and epidemiology, in particular, in preventing the progression of kidney disease and its complications. He leads several major international clinical trials with a focus on diabetic kidney disease, IgA nephropathy and CKD more broadly, and has Chaired the Steering Committees of many trials including CREDENCE, FLOW, TESTING, PROTECT, and APPLAUSE, along with several ongoing trials. Dr. Perkovic holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, and of the American Society of Nephrology.