STOP PKD - Study investigates a new treatment option for people with the most common form of genetic kidney disease

12/12/2025

Scientists have initiated a study to investigate whether dapagliflozin, an already approved drug from the SGLT2 inhibitors group, can positively affect the course of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)

“We have reached the first decisive milestone. The first centre has now been initiated in Cologne. Over the next six to nine months, at least 26 more centres in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Austria will begin the STOP-PKD study,” says Professor Dr. Roman-Ullrich Müller.

For some years now, a new and effective treatment option known as SGLT2 inhibitors has been available for patients with kidney disease. Unfortunately, not all those affected can benefit from this therapy. People with polycystic kidney disease are excluded from this, however, meaning that the efficacy and safety of this approach in polycystic kidney disease is currently unclear. Polycystic kidney disease is the most common form of genetic kidney disease and affects more than 10 million people worldwide. A team led by kidney specialist Professor Dr. Roman-Ulrich Müller, Chair of Translational Nephrology and Principle Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), was able to raise over 3 million euros from the German Research Foundation for the first three years of a trial program, which will answer this question. Follow-up funding for the three subsequent years has already been announced. The large-scale STOP-PKD trial has now been launched in Cologne. International partner organizations are also involved in the project.

“We have reached the first decisive milestone. The first centre has now been initiated in Cologne. Over the next six to nine months, at least 26 more centres in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Austria will begin the STOP-PKD study,” says Professor Müller. 

The STOP-PKD study is supported and financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG). As part of the DFG proposal, the German Society of Nephrology (DGfN), the European Renal Association (ERA), and the European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network (ERKNet) expressly endorsed conducting the study in order to research new treatment options for ADPKD. In addition, various patient organizations are supporting the study with advice and help towards patient recruitment. 

 

“Who is Roman-Ulrich Müller?" - Learn more about his research activities


Further information:
https://stop-pkd.de/ 
https://www.uk-koeln.de/uniklinik-koeln/aktuelles/detailansicht/studie-zur-behandlung-der-haeufigsten-genetischen-nierenerkrankung/
 

Scientific Contact:
Professor Dr. Roman-Ulrich Müller
roman-ulrich.mueller[at]uk-koeln.de


This message has been modified by the CMMC (K. Heber & D. Grosskopf-Kroiher) and is based on the text by the press and communications teams of the University of Cologne (Dr.Anna Euteneuer, original version here).

 

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