‘New antibody drugs offer hope for kidney disease remission’

Madurai: Experts at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre said new pharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies were shifting kidney care beyond slowing disease progression towards achieving clinical remission.They said breakthrough medications approved in 2025 for treatment of kidney diseases included GLP-1 analogues, monoclonal antibodies, and endothelin receptor antagonists, particularly for conditions such as IgA nephropathy, one of the major causes of kidney disease in India. Dr K Sampathkumar, senior consultant nephrologist, Dr R Ravichandran, senior consultant urologist, and Dr Kannan, medical administrator of the hospital, were addressing reporters on Wednesday, ahead of World Kidney Day on Mar 12.Dr Sampathkumar said they recently treated a patient with a rare condition affecting glomerular basement membrane (GBM), the thin filtering layer in the kidney that helps purify blood, using a novel monoclonal antibody therapy. "Rising global temperatures and prolonged heat exposure lead to heat stress and dehydration, both of which place intense strain on the kidneys and can cause direct injury," Dr R Ravichandran said They said regular physical activity, balanced diet with reduced salt and processed foods, and maintaining a healthy body weight were essential to reducing strain on kidneys. Adequate hydration helped kidneys remove toxins and lowered the risk of kidney stones.