Research progress in anti-renal fibrosis drugs.

Renal fibrosis is the common pathological basis for the progressive development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused by various etiologies. It is characterized by the persistent deposition of extracellular matrix, leading to renal tissue damage and impaired renal function, and ultimately progressing to kidney failure. Current clinical treatments for CKD mainly focus on managing the primary diseases, with no specific drugs targeting renal fibrosis. The pathogenesis of renal fibrosis is complex, and there are currently no drugs available to reverse it. A comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, alongside a summary of current anti-fibrotic therapies, including some that are already used clinically to slow renal function progression, new drugs in clinical trials, and emerging targeted therapies, could provide new theoretical foundations and perspectives for the treatment of renal fibrosis.