NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) have recommended sparsentan, a new drug for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), is made available on the NHS for patients with this kidney condition.
Guy Hill, a member of Kidney Care UK’s Patient Advisory Group (PAG), acted as a patient expert for NICE during this appraisal. He highlighted the impact that IgAN has on quality of life and how it can affect people’s ability to work, travel and maintain relationships. He emphasised the importance of finding a treatment that could slow down the progression of the disease and the hope that this would offer people with IgAN.
IgAN has few symptoms at the early stages so is often not diagnosed until the condition has significantly progressed. This guidance adds a further treatment that can slow the progression of the disease and so is a welcome announcement. IgAN generally affects a younger group of patients and is therefore extremely disruptive to people’s lives as they may have young families or are starting out in their careers. We’re pleased that this new treatment for IgAN will now be an option for patients who need it.Fiona Loud, Policy Director at Kidney Care UK
This recommendation is a reversal of the draft NICE guidance published earlier in 2025 which recommended the drug should not be available on the NHS. The change was made following an examination of additional evidence and the pharmaceutical company reducing the price of the drug.
Kidney Care UK welcome this change and the availability of a new treatment for IgAN, for which there are very limited treatment options that can slow the progression of the disease.
The final guidance on sparsentan has been sent to all groups involved in the appraisal who have 15 working days to consider whether they wish to appeal against it. Subject to any appeal by consultees, the guidance will be used as the basis for NICE's guidance on the use of the treatment in the NHS in England.
NHS Trusts must make funding available for this treatment within 90 days of this final guidance being published, if there is a shared decision between individuals and their clinicians that this is the right treatment for them.
We recommend speaking with your doctor if you would like to know more about whether the treatment might be right for you, once it becomes available.
Other treatments for IgAN are available on the NHS and there are a number of clinical trials taking place to research further treatment options.