The study reinforces the clinical relevance of cilastatin, a well-established inhibitor of renal dipeptidase-1 (DPEP1), demonstrating a strong human safety profile and consistent protection against AKI across diverse patient populations.
Abstract
The analysis included more than 1,500 participants from multiple randomized and observational studies involving high-risk clinical settings, including antibiotic-, chemotherapy-, and contrast-associated kidney injury.
Cilastatin treatment was associated with up to a 74% lower risk of AKI, underscoring its potential as a nephroprotective therapy for patients exposed to nephrotoxic drugs or procedures.
Dr. James MD PhD (University of Calgary), who also leads the ongoing PONTiAK Phase IIb clinical trial of cilastatin in hospitalized patients, highlights that these findings support further clinical evaluation of cilastatin as a preventive therapy for drug-induced AKI.
Publication Details
Citation
Acharya, Dilaram et al. Nephroprotective Effects of Cilastatin in People at Risk of Acute Kidney Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Kidney Medicine, Volume 6, Issue 12, 100913
Authors
Dilaram Acharya, Fanar Ghanim, Tyrone G. Harrison, Tayler Dawn Scory, Nusrat Shommu, Paul E. Ronksley, Meghan J. Elliott, David Collister, Neesh Pannu, Matthew T. James
“Cilastatin shows consistent nephroprotective effects in high-risk populations, supporting its potential clinical use to reduce the incidence and severity of AKI.”
Read the full paper online at Kidney Medicine,
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