November 07, 2025
2 min read
Key takeaways:
- New therapies, like drugs for glomerular diseases and kidney replacement devices, offer potential for treating kidney disease.
- The momentum of the field must be carried by all in nephrology, ASN president said.
HOUSTON — Nephrologists must capitalize on new therapeutic agents and opportunities to carry on the momentum of the field, according to Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN.
Roy-Chaudhury, president of the American Society of Nephology, spoke at the opening plenary at ASN Kidney Week about innovations and challenges in kidney care and what clinicians can do to maintain momentum in the field.
“Everyone in the kidney community has to contribute for true change to happen,” Roy-Chaudhury told Healio.
Innovations in kidney care
In his opening remarks, Roy-Chaudhury said nephrology has “real momentum,” most notably in the form of new therapies, including new agents for glomerular diseases, treatments for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic diseases, xenotransplantation and kidney replacement devices.
“The fact that we have so many new therapies that are either available or soon to be available — 10 for [immunoglobulin A] nephropathy, five for cardio-kidney-metabolic diseases, four for lupus nephritis and even two for our niche disease of C3 glomerulopathy — means that we are faced with a new set of challenges around how to use these therapies,” Roy-Chaudhury said.
With these new therapies, Roy-Chaudhury said he expects new challenges regarding combination therapies, precision-based approaches and the potential use of new agents in preventing kidney disease.
“These questions are not challenges, but rather, they are amazing opportunities for clinical investigation,” he said. “There has never been a better time to be a nephrologist.”
Challenges in kidney care
Amid the many innovations in kidney care, Roy-Chaudhury said, inequities, workforce shortages and the global impact of kidney disease remain challenges in nephrology.
“We must also never forget that kidney disease is a global problem,” he said. “The greatest benefit of generic versions of therapies such as the SGLT2 inhibitors, will be in low- and middle-income countries where access to [end-stage kidney disease] therapies are often limited due to cost.”
Moreover, Roy-Chaudhury said, access to research funding for kidney disease remains a concern. To address this uncertainty, the ASN called on the federal government to invest $1.8 billion annually in the next 10 years with the Transforming Kidney Health Research Report. In addition, the ASN will provide $6 million in bridge grants for kidney health researchers.
“We need to have an aggressive implementation of the new therapies, so that they can be the catalyst that will allow us to demonstrate the value of nephrology and nephrologists to governments and health care systems and insurers and payors,” Roy-Chaudhury said.
What nephrologists can do
For the future of nephrology, Roy-Chaudhury called on all nephrologists to participate in the momentum of the field.
“If you are a full-time clinician in community practice, do participate in care delivery pathways that will allow your patients rapid access to new kidney therapies and also enroll your patients in clinical trials,” he said.
Beyond nephrologists, he said, nephrology care team members also must participate.
“If you are a basic or translational science researcher, think about ways to translate your research into treatments, so that your science gets to kidney patients who are desperately waiting for your cutting-edge innovations,” he said. “And perhaps most importantly, if you are a fellow in training or a young nephrologist, know that this is your meeting and this is your time.”
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Roy-Chaudhury P. Opening plenary: ASN president’s address. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Nov. 5-9, 2025; Houston.
Disclosures:
Roy-Chaudhury is president of the American Society of Nephrology and reports serving as a consultant and advisor for Alexion, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BioMed Organ Bank, Boston Scientific, CorMedix, Humacyte, Mozarc Medical, Panoramic Science and Vera.
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