TS-000912 — There are a few prominent diseases that affect the kidney, such as nephrotic syndrome and diabetic nephropathy. To treat Type II diabetes, there is a readily available pharmaceutical known as pioglitazone that is often used in conjuncture with other compounds to reduce proteinuria in patients with kidney diseases. A team of researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have developed a novel compound to act as a treatment agent in cases of kidney disease. The new design has similar insulin sensitizing effects as pioglitazone as well as its ability to reduce proteinuria. This compound, titled GQ-16, has similar efficacy as traditional Type II diabetes drugs and acts as a new indication for nephrotic syndrome or kidney diseases, with a significant reduction in side effects such as weight gain or adipogenesis.

TS-000859 — Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common kidney disease found in children that creates an overabundance of protein in the urine, comparable to proteinuria in adults. As of now, there are no approved safe and effective treatment for NS, especially for those whose NS is steroid or multi-drug resistant. A team of researchers have identified a series of new molecular targets for future drug development. Using glomerular transcriptomes and informatic analysis, clinicians will be able to identify immunosuppressive approaches that are distinct from the current procedures.