Summary
Candesartan Cilexetil has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). ClinicalTrials.gov lists 2 registered trials linking Candesartan Cilexetil to Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD): 2 are terminated, withdrawn, suspended or of unknown status. The most advanced is Phase 4 (NCT00541853). The largest enrolment is 160 participants (NCT00890279). Registration activity spans 2007 to 2009. The literature layer holds 2 publications for this pair: 2 clinical trial publications. Publication years run from 2000 to 2005. These are primary trial reports rather than syntheses, so results have not yet been pooled or graded independently.
The RepurpOS disease-intelligence file for Polycystic Kidney Disease ranks 50 candidate therapeutics from Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and PubMed; only a minority carry direct clinical evidence, and this page covers one of those. Spontaneous remission context recorded for the condition: Progressive; GFR decline averages 4-5 mL/min/year in Mayo Class 1C-1E; renal failure by 60-70 years in 50% without treatment; spontaneous stabilisation rare.
Evidence table
| Evidence tier | A · Strong |
|---|---|
| Evidence score | 29.0 (trials 5.0, literature 4.0, tier 15, approved bonus 5.0) |
| Registered trials | 2 total: 0 recruiting, 0 active / not yet recruiting, 0 completed, 2 other |
| Linked publications | 2 (2 clinical trial publications) |
| Agent type | Drug (Small molecule) |
| Development stage (any indication) | Approved |
| Mechanism / class | inhibitor; inhibitor |
| Data sources | DGIdb |
| Linked via biomarker / target | AGTR1 |
How the evidence score is calculated
- Each registered trial scores by status (recruiting / active / enrolling 3, completed 2.5, not yet recruiting 2, unknown 1, terminated / withdrawn / suspended 0.5) plus a phase bonus (phase 3-4 +2, phase 2 +1, phase 1 +0.5). The trial component is capped at 30.
- Each literature item scores by design (Cochrane review 5, meta-analysis 4, systematic review 3, RCT 3, clinical trial publication 2, curated reference 1.5, other PubMed record 1). The literature component is capped at 30.
- The existing evidence tier adds 15 (A / Strong), 10 (B / Moderate), 5 (C / Preliminary) or 0 (D / Anecdotal).
- Agents approved for any indication (max clinical phase 4) add 5, because an approved agent has an established safety profile that lowers the barrier to repurposing trials.
- The score ranks what has been studied, not what works. It does not read effect sizes or directions of effect.
Registered clinical trials
| NCT ID | Title | Status | Phase | Enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT00541853 | CCB Safety Study in Treatment of Hypertension of ADPKD 2007 | status unknown | Phase 4 | 150 |
| NCT00890279 | Efficacy and Safety Study of Second-Line Treatment for Hypertension With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease(ADPKD) 2009 | status unknown | Phase 2 | 160 |
Published literature
- Clinical trial publication Candesartan reduces urinary fatty acid-binding protein excretion in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseaseNakamura T, Sugaya T, Kawagoe Y et al. · The American journal of the medical sciences · 2005 · PMID 16234607
- Clinical trial publication Effects of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist candesartan cilexetil on blood pressure and proteinuria in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseaseNakamura T, Ushiyama C, Shimada N et al. · Nephron · 2000 · PMID 11096316
Mechanism and notes
Recorded mechanism or class: inhibitor; inhibitor.
OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target AGTR1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Candesartan Cilexetil approved for Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)?
Candesartan Cilexetil has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Approval status for the specific indication should always be confirmed with the relevant regulator and prescribing information.
Is Candesartan Cilexetil in clinical trials for Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)?
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 2 registered trials linking Candesartan Cilexetil to Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD): 2 are terminated, withdrawn, suspended or of unknown status. The most advanced is Phase 4 (NCT00541853). The largest enrolment is 160 participants (NCT00890279). Registration activity spans 2007 to 2009.
What does the evidence show for Candesartan Cilexetil in Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)?
Trials of Candesartan Cilexetil in Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) are registered but none has completed, so there is no outcome evidence from those studies yet; the record is a signal of research interest. OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target AGTR1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Cite this page
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and the OSMF therapeutic agent database. Last updated 2026-07-06. Page built 2026-10-07.