A recent study presented at a major kidney health conference (ASN Kidney Week 2026) has shown encouraging results for people waiting for a kidney transplant. The study, called the European Post‑Authorization Efficacy and Safety (PAES) study, looked at 50 patients across Europe who had a high risk of rejecting a donated kidney (called crossmatch-positive) and were waiting for a deceased-donor kidney transplant. The results were so important that the study was featured in the conference’s High‑Impact Clinical Trials session, which highlights the most significant research in kidney health. The study was led by scientists and doctors, including Dr. Oriol Bestard from Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona.
The CEO of the company that developed the treatment, Renée Aguiar‑Lucander from Hansa Biopharma, shared her thoughts on the findings: “This study shows that the drug Idefirix (also known as imlifidase) can help patients who have a hard time finding a compatible kidney because of their immune system’s strong reaction. We’re excited that more doctors and researchers are seeing the benefits of this treatment.”
Here are the key results from the study:
– One year after the transplant, 90% of the patients still had a working kidney (no graft failure).
– 92% of the kidneys were still working properly after one year.
– 98% of the patients were alive one year after the transplant.
– The drug was generally well tolerated, meaning most patients did not experience serious side effects, and the safety results matched what was seen in earlier studies.
Dr. Bestard added: “This study provides strong evidence for patients who have a very difficult time finding a matching kidney. It shows that imlifidase can help these patients get a transplant, which is life-changing for them.”
ASN Kidney Week is one of the most important meetings in the world for kidney disease and transplant research, and the High‑Impact Clinical Trials session is reserved for studies that are considered especially valuable to patients and doctors. The study was presented by Dr. Bestard on behalf of all the researchers involved in the PAES study.