Genetic Testing Helps Refine Kidney Disease Trial Design, Says Natera Expert

In a sponsored episode of The Top Line, Dr. Ronen Schneider, Natera's medical director of renal genetics, explains how genotype‑defined kidney disease data can improve clinical trial design. He notes that broad chronic kidney disease labels often hide important biological differences that can affect trial outcomes.

Schneider discusses the use of genetic testing and longitudinal clinical data to identify more precise patient populations, citing examples such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and other genetically defined glomerular diseases. He outlines how this approach can influence natural‑history assumptions, endpoint selection, prognostic enrichment, and recruitment strategies.

The conversation also highlights RenasightIQ, a platform that merges genetic results with clinical histories, lab trends, and claims data from over 300,000 patients. The key takeaway for development teams is to consider genotype as a variable in trial design, using real‑world data to uncover hidden heterogeneity and stress‑test future development plans.