Developing New Drugs Targeting Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Platform
Addressing the urgent need for on-target therapies in CKD.
Arch Biopartners’ pre-clinical CKD platform is built on a novel mechanism targeting interleukin-32 (IL-32), a non-classical cytokine linked to kidney disease progression.
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide. By targeting IL-32, Arch is pursuing a pathway implicated in DKD progression, with the goal of slowing or preventing irreversible kidney damage.
Chronic kidney disease is a significant unmet medical need, affecting more than 800 million people worldwide and approximately 35–38 million in the U.S. Diabetes is the leading cause, responsible for up to 40% of cases. Many current treatments act indirectly, having been developed for cardiovascular or metabolic conditions. This leaves a clear need for on-target therapies such as Arch’s IL-32 approach.
Arch’s CKD program is developing an on-target strategy that addresses the pathways driving CKD progression, particularly diabetic kidney disease.
- Recently filed patents cover both composition and method-of-use claims for IL-32–targeted therapeutics.
- The program is led by Dr. Justin Chun, Principal Scientist.
IL-32 as a therapeutic target in diabetic kidney disease (DKD)
Pre-clinical studies led by Dr. Justin Chun showed that IL-32 plays a direct role in diabetic CKD by driving tubular inflammation and fibrotic remodeling. Reducing IL-32 activity in models lowered tubular injury, highlighting its potential as a new therapeutic target.
Building on these findings, Arch’s CKD platform advances an on-target therapeutic strategy that addresses the biological pathways driving CKD. The program leverages the Company’s strengths in nephrology and inflammation biology, complementing ongoing clinical efforts in acute kidney injury (AKI).
