June 2025 CKD Insider Newsletter

one track health
Jun 30
4 min read

Welcome to the Chronic Kidney Disease Insider Newsletter. If you are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis, have had a kidney transplant or are helping care for someone who is, this newsletter was created for you! The CKD Insider Newsletter provides actionable information for you and your family to help you manage your health in consultation with your doctor.

In this month’s CKD Insider:

Latest News from Kidney Organizations
FDA Approves Belimumab Autoinjector for Children With Active Lupus Nephritis
FDA Approves Generic Tolvaptan Tablets
The I CAN Study for People with IgAN is Recruiting Participants
Recent study: At-Home CKD Screening Results in Expanded Testing, Earlier Diagnosis
Texas and Nevada Have Expanded Medigap Access for Dialysis Patients
Your Fun Tip of the Day!

Latest News from Kidney Organizations

Ensure your voice is heard! Reach out to your congressional representatives today.

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) urges Congress to reject harmful provisions in the recent bill under consideration. Read the latest details of how this could affect you here.

If you’d like to share your voice regarding proposed Medicaid and Medicare cuts that would impact the kidney community, the Renal Support Network (RSN) has information to help you follow the changes to the bill and example scripts to contact your congressional representatives here.

Resources for Kidney-Friendly Recipes at Every Disease Stage

The American Kidney Fund’s Kidney Kitchen offers a database of kidney-friendly recipes. Because nutritional needs vary significantly among kidney patients, based on their disease stage, dialysis status, or transplantation status, Kidney Kitchen offers recipes tailored to each individual. Check out the Kidney Kitchen here.

Renal Support Network Essay Contest Submissions Due Aug 10^th

The Renal Support Network’s (RSN) annual Essay Contest is accepting submissions through August 10^th, 2025. For the 23^rd annual contest, the essay theme is “Innovation: Past, Present and Future.” The RSN “encourages participants to reflect on how innovations in CKD treatments have impacted their journey with kidney disease and/or what advancements they hope to see in the future to improve care and quality of life.” You can learn more about the contest and/or submit your essay here.

FDA approves Belimumab autoinjector for children with active lupus nephritis

What it is: The FDA has approved a belimumab autoinjector (brand name: Benlysta) for pediatric patients aged 5 years and older with lupus nephritis. The belimumab autoinjector was initially approved in 2011 and was recently expanded to include pediatric patients with active lupus nephritis. Specific B cells, called autoreactive B cells, are responsible for tissue damage in autoimmune conditions because they react to self-antigens, rather than just those of invading pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria. Belimumab inhibits autoreactive B cells to prevent tissue damage.

Why it’s important: Up to half of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience severe kidney damage. Benlysta allows for at-home administration, reducing the need for clinic visits. Learn more here.

FDA approves generic Tolvaptan tablets for polycystic kidney disease

What it is: Tolvaptan, under the brand name Jynarque®, was approved in 2018 to slow kidney function decline in adults at risk for rapidly progressing autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Now, a generic, equivalent version will be made available.

Why it’s important: ADPKD is an inherited disorder and the most common form of polycystic kidney disease. In the United States, about 600,000 people have PKD. Those with ADPKD have diminished levels of blood sodium, which impacts kidney function and can lead to heart failure. Tolvapatan works to maintain appropriate blood sodium levels. Learn more here.

The I CAN study for people with IgAN is recruiting participants

The I CAN Study is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of ravulizumab to treat adults with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Revulizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets a protein called complement C5. This study was designed in partnership with patients living with IgAN.

If you have been diagnosed with IgAN and are interested in participating, learn more about the trial and find study contacts by visiting this link.

Recent study: At-Home CKD Screening Results in Expanded Testing, Earlier Diagnosis

A recent study involving patients with diabetes and/or hypertension found that participants who were offered a smartphone-powered at-home urine test completed urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) screening at a significantly higher rate (2.5 times higher) than patients receiving standard care. Importantly, they were much more likely to receive a diagnosis of CKD or proteinuria over a 9-month study period, indicating that this smartphone-based at-home testing allowed for earlier diagnosis. Read more about this study here.

Texas and Nevada Have Expanded Medigap Access for Dialysis Patients

Both Texas and Nevada have recently expanded Medigap access for dialysis patients.

In May, Texas passed House Bill 2516, which mandates that Medicare supplement policies, also known as Medigap, are accessible to patients under 65 years old with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Learn more here.

In June, the Nevada governor signed Senate Bill 292 into law. This law expands Medigap, guaranteeing that dialysis patients under 65 years old have access to affordable Medigap coverage. The bill will go into effect this coming October. For more information, please visit this link.

Your Fun Tip of the Day!

Turn Dialysis Time into Movie Time

Dialysis sessions can feel long—but with the right movie, they can fly by. Grab your phone, pop in some earbuds, and dive into a feel-good comedy, an edge-of-your-seat thriller, or a documentary that sparks your curiosity. Free apps like Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel make it easy to stream without a subscription, and if you have T-mobile you can watch Netflix for free. Watching a movie or tv series you live is a simple way to lift your mood, pass the time, and enjoy a little entertainment right from your chair.

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