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Developing Therapies for C3 Glomerulopathy: Report of the Kidney Health Initiative C3 Glomerulopathy Trial Endpoints
Carla Nester1, Dima A Decker2, Matthias Meier3
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Insights
Experts reviewed trial endpoints for C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) treatments. While specific thresholds remain undefined, positive effects on proteinuria, eGFR, and histopathology are considered compelling for complement pathway therapies.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Complement Biology
- Clinical Trial Design
Background:
- C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a rare glomerular disease.
- Novel agents targeting the alternative complement pathway are in clinical trials for C3G.
- Standardized trial endpoints are needed to assess treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess data supporting prespecified trial endpoints for clinical benefit in C3G.
- To define compelling efficacy findings for C3G treatments in native kidneys.
- To address knowledge gaps in C3G clinical trial endpoint evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Convened a panel of C3G experts and a Trial Endpoints Work Group.
- Reviewed evidence and uncertainties linking proteinuria, eGFR, and histopathology to outcomes.
- Group discussions and feedback on subpanel summaries of endpoint data.
Main Results:
- Experts agreed on the characterization of data and uncertainties supporting the chosen endpoints.
- A minimum clinically meaningful threshold for endpoint changes could not be defined due to data limitations.
- A favorable treatment effect on all three endpoints (proteinuria, eGFR, histopathology) would be convincing evidence of efficacy.
Conclusions:
- A treatment may be considered effective with meaningful proteinuria reduction and stable/improved eGFR, even without complete endpoint alignment.
- Data sharing between academic and industry partners is crucial to address knowledge gaps.
- Further research is needed to establish definitive clinical benefit thresholds for C3G therapies.
Abstract:
Randomized clinical trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy of novel agents targeting the alternative complement pathway in patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), a rare glomerular disease. The Kidney Health Initiative convened a panel of experts in C3G to ( 1 ) assess the data supporting the use of the prespecified trial end points as measures of clinical benefit and ( 2 ) opine on efficacy findings they would consider compelling as treatment(s) of C3G in native kidneys. Two subpanels of the C3G Trial Endpoints Work Group reviewed the available evidence and uncertainties for the association between the three prespecified end points-( 1 ) proteinuria, ( 2 ) eGFR, and ( 3 ) histopathology-and anticipated outcomes. The full work group provided feedback on the summaries provided by the subpanels and on what potential treatment effects on the proposed end points they would consider compelling to support evidence of an investigational product's effectiveness for treating C3G. Members of the full work group agreed with the characterization of the data, evidence, and uncertainties, supporting the end points. Given the limitations of the available data, the work group was unable to define a minimum threshold for change in any of the end points that might be considered clinically meaningful. The work group concluded that a favorable treatment effect on all three end points would provide convincing evidence of efficacy in the setting of a therapy that targeted the complement pathway. A therapy might be considered effective in the absence of complete alignment in all three end points if there was meaningful lowering of proteinuria and stabilization or improvement in eGFR. The panel unanimously supported efforts to foster data sharing between academic and industry partners to address the gaps in the current knowledge identified by the review of the end points in the aforementioned trials.
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