CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 3, 2026
Biogen Inc. announced that 14 abstracts from its expanding nephrology portfolio have been accepted for presentation at the 63rd European Renal Association (ERA) Congress and the 2026 American Transplant Congress (ATC). The presentations will feature new findings on EMPAVELI® (pegcetacoplan) and felzartamab, an investigational anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody being developed for multiple immune-mediated kidney diseases. The extensive scientific presence underscores Biogen’s growing commitment to nephrology and highlights ongoing efforts to address significant unmet needs across rare kidney disorders and transplant-related complications.
EMPAVELI Data Demonstrate Long-Term Benefits in Rare Kidney Diseases
At the ERA Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, Biogen will present multiple analyses from the pivotal Phase 3 VALIANT study and its long-term extension study, VALE, evaluating EMPAVELI in patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and primary immune-complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN). The data highlight the therapy’s sustained efficacy and safety profile through one year of treatment while exploring treatment responses across disease subgroups, genetic factors, and complement pathway abnormalities. Additional presentations will examine real-world disease patterns, long-term tolerability, infection rates, and the rationale behind ongoing development programs investigating pegcetacoplan in other kidney disorders, including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). These findings further strengthen the evidence supporting EMPAVELI as a treatment option for rare complement-mediated kidney diseases.
Felzartamab Advances Across Multiple Kidney Disease Programs
Biogen will also present several studies involving felzartamab, an investigational anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody designed to target plasma cells and other immune components associated with pathogenic antibody production. New analyses from Phase 2 studies will evaluate the therapy’s impact in antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) among kidney transplant recipients, including patients with longstanding rejection histories and prior treatment exposure. Additional research will explore biomarker changes, immune cell responses, and mechanisms underlying treatment activity. Data from the IGNAZ study in IgA nephropathy will also assess soluble BCMA as a potential biomarker of plasma cell depletion. Together, these presentations reinforce Biogen’s strategy of advancing felzartamab across a broad range of immune-mediated kidney diseases.
Advertisement
Scientific Momentum Supports Growing Nephrology Portfolio
The upcoming presentations at ERA and ATC reflect growing momentum behind Biogen’s nephrology franchise following the addition of EMPAVELI and continued advancement of felzartamab through late-stage clinical development. A dedicated symposium at ATC will focus on emerging biomarkers for transplant rejection and the role of CD38-positive cells in antibody-mediated injury and microvascular inflammation. Biogen believes the combined clinical and translational research data presented at both congresses will help deepen understanding of disease mechanisms while supporting future treatment innovations. As kidney diseases continue to represent areas of high unmet medical need, the company is positioning its portfolio to address both rare complement-driven disorders and transplant-related complications through targeted therapeutic approaches.
Source: Biogen press release
