Ligand trap for the activin type IIA receptor. The long-sought drug to overcome the calcification paradox in CKD?

Abstract

The chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder syndrome illustrates the association between a disturbed physiological bone turnover/mineralization and pathologic vascular mineralization; the so-called calcification paradox. This implies that treatments aimed at curing bone disorders might have serious implications for cardiovascular health and vice versa. Hence, there is an urgent need for treatments that are able to break through this cross-talk. Hereto, compounds such as those interfering with activin type IIA receptor signaling and acting upstream of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway are of particular interest.