4 Nephrology Headlines You Missed in May 2026

May 2026 brought significant developments across nephrology, from regulatory milestones to advances in precision medicine and disease management.

These developments were highlighted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Priority Review of finerenone (Kerendia) for adults with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), signaling a potential expansion of treatment options for a high-risk population. Precision medicine also took center stage, with investigators demonstrating that a novel 9-protein plasma risk score could identify APOL1 high-risk individuals most likely to progress to kidney failure years before traditional markers such as eGFR decline or albuminuria emerge. Meanwhile, growing attention to APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) reflected an ongoing shift toward mechanism-based care, with experts emphasizing earlier diagnosis, targeted therapeutic strategies, genetic risk assessment, and evolving definitions of disease remission.

Catch up on the key nephrology news, research findings, and expert insights featured on HCPLive throughout May 2026.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Finerenone for Type 1 Diabetes and CKD

On May 21, 2026, Bayer announced the FDA had accepted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) and granted Priority Review for finerenone (Kerendia) in adults with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), based on positive results from the phase 3 FINE-ONE trial.

9-Protein Plasma Score Predicts Kidney Failure Risk in APOL1 High-Risk Individuals Before Visible CKD

A plasma proteomic risk score composed of 9 circulating proteins identified APOL1 high-risk individuals most likely to progress to kidney failure years before conventional clinical markers, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline and albuminuria, became apparent.

Derived from the Penn Medicine BioBank and validated in 2 independent cohorts, the score could help address a longstanding challenge in nephrology: determining which APOL1 carriers are most likely to develop progressive kidney disease.

IgAN Enters “Mechanism-First Era” Reframing Diagnosis, Treatment, and Remission

In recognition of IgAN Awareness Day on May 14, 2026, HCPLive spoke with leading nephrologists about the evolving management of IgAN, including earlier diagnosis, treatment sequencing strategies, biomarker development, and the changing definition of remission.

APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease: From Genetic Discovery to the Edge of Precision Medicine

As targeted therapies move closer to clinical practice, experts highlighted ongoing challenges in AMKD, including delayed diagnosis, variable disease progression, and disparities in access to genetic testing and specialized care. For AMKD Awareness Day, HCPLive spoke with 5 experts about the field's evolution from genetic discovery to emerging precision treatment approaches.