Sparsentan Could Address Unmet Need in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Population

Sparsentan is a Dual Endothelin Angiotensin Receptor Antagonist (DEARA) that's in phase 3 development for the treatment of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGs), rare kidney diseases.

In an interview with HCPLive, Jula Inrig, MD, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Travere Therapeutics discussed how FSGs impacts the lives of those who live with it and how Sparsentan has the potential to help amend their unmet needs.

"For patients with FSGs, they can present with pretty severe symptoms," she explained. "So, they're going to present with swelling, they might wake up and have facial swelling, or edema in their face."

The course for these patients can be rapid and severe depending on treatment and whether they're relapsing or remitting.

"If they have very severe nephrotic syndrome, they typically can progress to dialysis within a 3 year time period if they have about 10 grams of proteinuria or higher," Inrig continued. "So, it can be a very rapid disease course, and for these patients, the burden of illness is quite high, and the fear associated with the disease and what's going to happen over time - it's problematic."

According to Inrig, the lack of available treatment options is an area that needs to be focused on in the FSGs population. Current treatments begin with brass inhibition, but that treatment approach entails immunosuppressant agents which can lead to complications. Also, when it comes to those with the genetic condition, these therapies might not even work, leaving many without options.

"For the steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, where patients just don't respond and are rapidly progressing for genetic FSGs as well, we don't have a lot of treatment options," she said. "It's a significant gap in the available treatments."

Data were recently presented on the therapeutic candidate at the 2022 American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Annual Meeting in Orlando.