Recently, Novartis announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Vanrafia (atrasentan) to treat primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger’s disease.
About IgA Nephropathy
- Nature of the Disease: IgAN is a progressive autoimmune kidney disease where immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits in the kidney’s glomeruli cause inflammation. Over time, this can lead to proteinuria and eventually compromise kidney function.
- Symptoms and Progression: One of the most common early signs is hematuria (blood in the urine). However, the disease often progresses slowly, with symptoms becoming more problematic over many years.
- Prevalence: Although it is considered rare, about 13 out of every million people in the US are diagnosed with IgAN each year, making it one of the more common autoimmune kidney diseases.
(Source: FE)
