Pilot Studies of Novel Therapies to Treat Resistant Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

Summary

The current management of primary FSGS is predicated on the assumption that the disease is caused by an immune-mediated disturbance in glomerular barrier function. Therefore, most treatment protocols have involved immunosuppressive drugs given singly or in combination. However, the efficacy of this type of therapy has been disappointing and the long-term prognosis for renal survival in patients with resistant FSGS is poor. An alternative approach that targets the fibrosis pathway may represent a novel approach to the treatment of resistant FSGS. In this R21, the investigators will test the hypothesis that two novel agents - a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonist and a peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonist - can be administered safely to patients with resistant FSGS. In the R21 feasibility/pilot phase, pharmacokinetic studies will be conducted to assess the impact of proteinuria on the kinetics of the novel drugs in children and adults. Specific Aim #1: To assess the safety and tolerability of two novel drugs - a TNF-α antagonist and a PPARγ agonist - in patients with resistant FSGS. Specific Aim #2: To conduct a pharmacokinetic (PK) assessment of the selected agents to enable selection of medication regimens for investigation in a randomized Phase II study.

Timeline

Start

2005-07

Primary completion

—

Completion

2007-10

Publications

• Liu ID, Willis NS, Craig JC, Hodson EM. Interventions for idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 May 8;5(5):CD003594. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003594.pub7.
• Hodson EM, Sinha A, Cooper TE. Interventions for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Feb 28;2(2):CD003233. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003233.pub3.

Drugs

Indications