Heart Regeneration Drug Shows Promise for Repairing Damaged Kidney Tissues: Study - Video

A drug originally developed to help the heart heal after a heart attack may also help damaged kidneys repair themselves, according to a new study published in Cell Stem Cell. Researchers found that the experimental therapy promoted kidney regeneration and reduced scarring in mice after injury, raising hopes for a new treatment approach for kidney disease.

The drug, called AD-NP1, works by blocking ENPP1, a protein that researchers found interferes with the body's natural repair process after tissue injury. Scientists at UCLA previously showed that inhibiting ENPP1 improves healing in heart tissue. In the new study, they discovered that the same protein also plays a key role in preventing kidney regeneration.

The researchers first analyzed kidney biopsies from people with chronic kidney disease and found significantly higher levels of ENPP1 compared with healthy kidney tissue. They then induced kidney injury in mice using a kidney-toxic diet and medications. Mice genetically unable to produce ENPP1 recovered much better, with blood markers of kidney function—including creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and cystatin C—showing significant improvement after four weeks compared with normal mice.

To test whether a drug could produce the same effect, the team treated injured mice with AD-NP1, a laboratory-engineered monoclonal antibody designed to specifically block ENPP1. Within just seven days, treated mice showed improved kidney function and significantly less scar tissue. Researchers also observed increased proliferation of healthy kidney cells, suggesting that blocking ENPP1 allows the organ's natural repair mechanisms to work more effectively.

The findings are particularly promising because AD-NP1 has already received FDA approval to begin Phase 1 clinical trials as a potential treatment to improve heart repair after heart attacks. The researchers now plan to pursue clinical trials to evaluate whether the same therapy can safely improve kidney healing in people with kidney disease.

REFERENCE: Su, L., et al. (2026). ENPP1 blockade with a humanized monoclonal antibody enhances renal repair after acute kidney injury. Cell Stem Cell. DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2026.05.011. https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(26)00203-1