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We are incredibly proud to highlight Dr. Andrew Bomback, our NephCure Specialist of the Month for April. This initiative recognizes the outstanding contributions of NephCure Specialists in the field of nephrology, spotlighting their work, projects, accomplishments, and valuable advice to the rare kidney disease (RKD) patient community.
Andrew S. Bomback, MD, MPH, is a nephrologist who specializes in glomerular diseases and resistant hypertension. He is Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Bomback’s research interests focus on evaluating novel therapies for glomerular diseases. He currently serves as principal or co-investigator on clinical trials of new treatments for IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, lupus glomerulonephritis, hereditary nephritis, C3 glomerulopathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
NephCure sat down with Dr. Bomback to explore his background and experience in clinical trial awareness and participation with those living with rare kidney disease.
When asked about the reason why clinical trials are so important for rare kidney disease patients, Dr. Bomback shared:
“Clinical trials offer two important benefits for patients with glomerular diseases: (1) They help us answer important scientific questions, and (2) in glomerular diseases, rare conditions for which there either is no standard of care or the current standard of care yields suboptimal outcomes, they offer patients early access to new therapies that can potentially and hopefully change the natural history of their disease. When I first meet a patient who has just been diagnosed with glomerular disease, they always ask, “What’s going to happen to me and is there a therapy that can give me the best possible outcome?” Clinical trials are designed to answer those questions.”
Regarding his advice for patients who may be interested in participating in clinical trials, Dr. Bomback suggested:
“I let them know that being in a trial is their decision, and it has potential benefits, including getting their disease into remission, and risks, one of which is possibly being in a placebo arm (fortunately, many of the newer trials are incorporating an open label extension period so that even patients randomized to placebo eventually get the study drug). I also let them know that being in a trial requires more time and commitment than just being followed in a clinic. There are more visits to the site, and these visits are longer and more detailed. But there is a benefit to these increased “touches” with their provider. More eyes are on them, and more chances exist for us to know how they are faring.”
For more information about NephCure Specialists and to find rare kidney disease experts in your area, visit NephCure’s Find a Specialist webpage!
