According to the National Kidney Foundation, over 26 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), a progressive condition in which the kidneys allow waste to build up in the blood. CKD can eventually lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a transplant. It is also associated with a dramatically increased risk of heart disease, which is the number one killer of CKD patients. The market for CKD treatment represents a large, unmet clinical need. One company looking to fill this niche is Reata Pharmaceuticals of Texas. Reata is developing an anti-inflammatory drug to improve kidney function in patients with CKD. Their platform of Antioxidant Inflammatory Modulators (AIMs) targets Nrf2, an antioxidant promoter that protects against a host of diseases associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. In three clinical studies, Reata’s lead program, bardoxolone methyl, was shown to improve kidney function in patients with CKD.
The company is developing a portfolio of anti-inflammatories for other diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson’s. Reata is also working on drugs that correct protein misfolding, which can lead to neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. According to the company’s website, over 90 peer-reviewed articles have demonstrated the efficacy of their AIMs against various diseases.