Veverimer Shows Strong Potential in Treating Metabolic Acidosis in CKD patients: Study

A new study published in the journal of BMC Nephrology found proof of veverimer being effective in the treatment of metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. While the findings reinforce its clinical value, they also highlight the need for further research to address remaining knowledge gaps and to guide future clinical practice.

Chronic kidney disease is a leading contributor to global mortality which affects around 800 million people. Among these patients, roughly one in five develops metabolic acidosis and this complication is associated with faster disease progression, reduced quality of life, and a higher risk of death.

Current treatment strategies for metabolic acidosis often rely on oral bicarbonate supplements, which can be difficult for patients to tolerate and may cause unwanted side effects. Veverimer is an investigational acid-binding polymer taken orally, which offers a different approach. Instead of supplying bicarbonate directly, the compound binds acid in the gastrointestinal tract and removes it from the body, by improving acid balance more efficiently.

This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies identified through major scientific databases and registries, including ClinicalTrials.gov to evaluate the therapy. The analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and assessed study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework.

Four randomized controlled trials met the criteria for inclusion. A total of 2,028 participants with CKD and metabolic acidosis were enrolled, where 1,083 patients received veverimer while 945 received placebo treatment.

The results showed that veverimer significantly improved serum bicarbonate levels when compared to placebo. The bicarbonate concentrations increased by 2.9 mmol/L on average, among patients taking the drug, which could translate into better clinical outcomes.

The rates of adverse events were similar between the veverimer and placebo groups, which suggests that the treatment is generally well tolerated. Additional analyses showed that treatment effectiveness was not significantly influenced by patient age or baseline kidney function, indicating the therapy may benefit a broad range of CKD patients.

Long-term studies are still needed to confirm whether improvements in biochemical markers translate into reduced complications or longer survival. Yet, the findings provide strong proof supporting veverimer as a promising new option.

Source:

Islampanah, M., Karami, S., Salehi, S., Akbari, A., Noradini, A., Tafazolimoghadam, A., Yousefi, S., & Pirzad, S. (2026). Veverimer in treating metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. BMC Nephrology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-026-04821-4