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AstraZeneca says FDA approves drug for rare kidney disease in adults

By Thomson Reuters Oct 21, 2026 | 6:07 PM

Oct 21 (Reuters) – AstraZeneca said on Wednesday the US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for its ​treatment for adults with immunoglobulin A ‌nephropathy, a rare kidney disease that can lead to renal failure.

Here are more details:

• AstraZeneca said the treatment Ultomiris reduced proteinuria — excess protein ‌in ​the urine — by 43.4% ⁠compared with placebo ⁠after 34 weeks in an interim analysis of the late-stage trial

• The drugmaker said the FDA granted the approval under ​its accelerated pathway, and that the ongoing trial will continue through 106 ⁠weeks to determine whether ⁠Ultomiris slows loss of kidney ​function to support traditional approval

• The company also ​said the drug was the first ‌and only approved C5 inhibitor for the disease, targeting an immune-system pathway linked to kidney inflammation

• AstraZeneca said more than ⁠200,000 people in the United States have the condition, and about half of those with elevated ⁠urine ‌protein levels or reduced kidney ⁠function are at high risk ​of ‌kidney failure within 10 years

• The ​company ⁠said no new safety concerns were identified in the study and applications are also under review in Japan and other countries

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Diti Pujara)