STAT+: Otsuka kidney drug slowed loss of function, but less than expected, in late-stage trial

STAT PlusPharma Otsuka kidney drug slowed loss of function, but less than expected, in late-stage trial Results leave room for competing treatments to perform better Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Adam FeuersteinJune 4, 2026 Adam Feuerstein, a senior writer and biotech columnist, is the author of Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter about the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. Adam Feuerstein[email protected]Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. Otsuka’s Voyxact slowed the loss of kidney function after one year in patients with a chronic autoimmune kidney disease, but the benefit was less than expected and left room for competing treatments to perform better. In a Phase 3 study, patients with IgA nephropathy, or IgAN, who received injections of Voyxact saw their kidneys lose function at an annualized rate of 3 points over one year compared to an annualized function loss of 7.6 points over one year for patients receiving a placebo, the Japanese drugmaker reported Thursday. Advertisement Kidney function was assessed with a lab test, called eGFR, that measures how well kidneys filter waste from the blood. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the pharma industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In biotechnology, chronic diseases, Pharmaceuticals, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Adam Feuerstein Senior Writer, Biotech Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. STAT+ Newsletter Senior writer Adam Feuerstein's unfiltered, uncompromising analysis on the biotech world Recommended Politics June 4, 2026 STAT Plus: Drug companies, patient groups urge FDA to pause commissioner’s voucher program The Readout June 4, 2026 STAT Plus: AI titans push Congress for DNA safeguards Advertisement Adam's Biotech Scorecard June 4, 2026 STAT Plus: Does Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer drug have even greater potential? First Opinion June 4, 2026 Grail’s multi-cancer early detection trial was negative. But as an oncologist, I see more to this story Biotech June 3, 2026 STAT Plus: Alnylam to partner with Inceptive Nucleics for AI foundation models for RNAi therapeutics Subscriber Picks