Chronic Kidney Disease Market: 5 Emerging Therapies to Watch
Multiple new treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD) are in development. Combinations of SGLT2 inhibitors and novel agents are poised to reshape the treatment landscape by 2036.
Several new treatment modalities for chronic kidney disease (CKD) are progressing through late-stage development and are expected to significantly alter the therapeutic landscape in the coming years. These include endothelin receptor antagonists, aldosterone synthase inhibitors, APOL1 inhibitors, and cell therapy approaches, which are poised to intensify competition and offer alternatives to current treatment paradigms.
Current CKD management focuses on slowing disease progression and reducing cardiovascular risk. SGLT2 inhibitors and novel non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have demonstrated improved renal and cardiovascular outcomes, increasingly supplanting single-agent RAS blockade. Approved therapies on the market include empagliflozin and finerenone.
Emerging combination therapies such as AstraZeneca's zibotentan/dapagliflozin and Boehringer Ingelheim's vicadrostat/empagliflozin target complementary mechanisms to existing treatments. ProKidney's cell therapy rilparencel aims to stabilize the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), potentially delaying the need for dialysis. DISC-Medicine's DISC-0974 is also noted for potentially addressing anemia within the CKD market.
The chronic kidney disease market was valued at approximately USD 5 billion in 2025 across major global markets. Projections indicate significant expansion through 2036, driven by increasing disease prevalence, enhanced diagnostic rates, and the introduction of novel therapies. These advancements are anticipated to improve patient outcomes and slow disease progression.