Finerenone Non-Steroidal MRA — PatSnap Eureka
Finerenone: Expanding the Non-Steroidal MRA Frontier in DKD, HFpEF & Heart Failure
Finerenone is a selective, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist with a rapidly expanding patent portfolio spanning diabetic kidney disease, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and novel cardiorenal combination strategies. Explore the full innovation landscape with PatSnap Eureka.
Why Finerenone Stands Apart as a Non-Steroidal MRA
Finerenone is a non-steroidal and selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) developed by Bayer AG. Unlike older steroidal MRAs such as spironolactone, finerenone is designed to be selective for the mineralocorticoid receptor over androgen, glucocorticoid, and progesterone receptors — substantially reducing off-target hormonal side effects while maintaining potent anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity. This selectivity profile is the cornerstone of its patent differentiation strategy, as documented across multiple Bayer AG filings including US10532050B2.
The primary approved indication for finerenone is chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes — specifically diabetic kidney disease (DKD) — including patients with macroalbuminuria or microalbuminuria. Its mechanism involves inhibiting mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated upregulation of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes in both cardiac and renal tissue. Finerenone is used in combination with other agents such as WHO-recommended renin-angiotensin system blockers including ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
The drug's bioavailability is enhanced through a solid dispersion formulation with copovidone polymer matrix, as protected in US11541053B2. This pharmaceutical composition patent covers treatment of heart failure, CKD, and resistant hypertension, indicating Bayer's intent to leverage the formulation platform across multiple cardiorenal indications. For broader context on mineralocorticoid receptor biology, researchers may reference resources from the NIH.
PatSnap Eureka's IP analytics platform reveals that Bayer's finerenone filing strategy has expanded dramatically since 2022, with combination therapy patents and new indication filings accelerating through 2024 — a signal that the cardiorenal franchise is far from mature.
From DKD to HFpEF: Finerenone's Expanding Cardiorenal Reach
Bayer AG's patent portfolio reveals a systematic expansion of finerenone's indications across the full spectrum of cardiorenal disease — from established DKD to emerging heart failure subtypes and non-diabetic kidney conditions.
Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) & CKD with Type 2 Diabetes
Finerenone is approved for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes. Patent US10532050B2 specifically covers use in patients with DKD with macroalbuminuria or microalbuminuria, including combination with ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Biomarker monitoring via UACR and eGFR is central to treatment assessment per US20230277527A1.
US10532050B2 · US20230277527A1Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)
HFpEF is a complex disease with heterogeneous etiologies including type 2 diabetes and obesity. Finerenone has been shown to reduce fibrosis and inflammation in animal models of HFpEF, and clinical studies are ongoing per WO2020169553A1. Biomarkers NT-proBNP and hsTnT are used to identify patients most likely to benefit per WO2020169552A1.
WO2020169553A1 · WO2020169552A1HFrEF, HFmrEF & Broad Heart Failure
2024 filings from Bayer AG extend finerenone coverage to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). WO2024056577A1 and WO2024056576A1 cover these subtypes respectively, while WO2024056578A1 covers broad heart failure with or without type 2 diabetes. Clinical studies in these populations are ongoing.
WO2024056576A1 · WO2024056577A1 · WO2024056578A1IgA Nephropathy, FSGS, Lupus Nephritis & ADPKD
Beyond DKD, finerenone is being investigated for IgA nephropathy (US20220305016A1), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (US20240148722A1), lupus nephritis (US20230172888A1), non-diabetic glomerulonephritis (EP3981407A1), and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (US20240065997A1) — all leveraging its anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory renal effects.
US20220305016A1 · US20240148722A1 · US20230172888A1Visualising the Finerenone Innovation Landscape
Patent filing velocity and indication distribution data derived from PatSnap Eureka analysis of Bayer AG's finerenone portfolio.
Finerenone Combination Patent Filing Velocity (2019–2024)
Bayer AG's combination therapy patent filings for finerenone accelerated sharply from 2022 onward, peaking at 8 filings in 2023.
Finerenone Combination Partner Classes in Patent Pipeline
Bayer has patented finerenone combinations with at least 8 distinct drug classes, with SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists as the most prominent partners.
Finerenone's Multi-Drug Cardiorenal Strategy
Bayer AG has systematically patented finerenone combinations with the most clinically relevant cardiorenal drug classes, from SGLT2 inhibitors to GLP-1 receptor agonists, positioning finerenone as a cornerstone of multi-mechanism cardiorenal therapy.
SGLT2 Inhibitor Combinations
Bayer has filed multiple patents covering combinations of finerenone and SGLT2 inhibitors including empagliflozin and dapagliflozin for the treatment of CKD, heart failure, and resistant hypertension. The earliest filing (WO2019025222A1) dates to 2019, with updated applications filed in 2024 (US20240207248A1, US20240207249A1). The combination is intended to provide additive or synergistic effects in reducing cardiorenal risk.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Combinations
WO2023083892A1 and US20230346790A1 cover combinations of finerenone with GLP-1 receptor agonists including semaglutide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide for treatment of CKD, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes. The combination is intended to provide additive or synergistic effects in reducing cardiorenal risk. A triple combination of finerenone, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and a GLP-1 receptor agonist is also patented (WO2022063938A1).
Monitoring Finerenone Efficacy: Biomarkers & Non-Diabetic CKD Expansion
Bayer AG has built a comprehensive biomarker monitoring framework alongside its indication expansion, covering both cardiorenal risk stratification and novel kidney disease targets.
| Indication / Application | Key Patent(s) | Biomarkers / Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CKD with Type 2 Diabetes (DKD) | US10532050B2 · US20230277527A1 | UACR, eGFR, NT-proBNP, plasma potassium | Approved |
| Heart Failure with Preserved EF (HFpEF) | WO2020169553A1 · WO2020169552A1 | NT-proBNP, hsTnT, cardiac/renal biomarkers | Clinical Studies Ongoing |
| HFrEF & HFmrEF | WO2024056577A1 · WO2024056576A1 | Ejection fraction, NT-proBNP | Clinical Studies Ongoing |
| IgA Nephropathy | US20220305016A1 | Anti-fibrotic / anti-inflammatory MR inhibition | Pipeline |
| Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) | US20240148722A1 | Anti-fibrotic / anti-inflammatory MR inhibition | Pipeline |
| Lupus Nephritis | US20230172888A1 | Anti-fibrotic / anti-inflammatory MR inhibition | Pipeline |
| ADPKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) | US20240065997A1 | Anti-fibrotic MR inhibition in cystic kidney | Pipeline |
| Resistant Hypertension | EP3981406A1 | Blood pressure reduction via MR antagonism | Clinical Evidence |
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The Non-Steroidal MRA Competitive Landscape
Bayer AG dominates the non-steroidal MRA patent landscape for finerenone, but is not alone. AstraZeneca AB (US11207317B2) has filed patents for novel non-steroidal MR antagonists using a dihydropyridinone scaffold, designed to minimise off-target activity at androgen, glucocorticoid, and progesterone receptors — directly competing with finerenone's core selectivity claim. Bayer itself holds patents on dihydropyridinone MRA compounds (US11013729B2), indicating this scaffold class is a key battleground.
Regulatory bodies including the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the FDA have approved finerenone for DKD, and the ongoing clinical trial program across HFpEF, HFrEF, and HFmrEF is designed to support label expansions. The PatSnap life sciences intelligence platform enables teams to monitor these regulatory signals alongside patent expiry timelines and competitive filing activity.
Beyond the core cardiorenal franchise, Bayer has filed patents for finerenone in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (US20230310436A1), fibrotic diseases including cardiac, renal, and pulmonary fibrosis (US20230089578A1), metabolic syndrome (US20220183999A1), and even polycystic ovary syndrome (US20230338359A1) — demonstrating a broad anti-fibrotic platform strategy that extends well beyond the cardiovascular-renal axis.
For R&D teams tracking this space, PatSnap customer case studies demonstrate how IP analytics teams use patent landscaping to identify white space, monitor competitor filings, and anticipate indication expansion — capabilities directly applicable to the finerenone competitive intelligence challenge.
Finerenone Non-Steroidal MRA — Key Questions Answered
Finerenone is a non-steroidal and selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA). Unlike steroidal MRAs, finerenone is designed to be selective for the mineralocorticoid receptor over androgen, glucocorticoid, and progesterone receptors — reducing off-target hormonal side effects while maintaining potent anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity.
Finerenone is approved for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes, specifically in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) including those with macroalbuminuria or microalbuminuria. It is used in combination with other agents such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
Yes. Finerenone is being evaluated for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF is a complex disease with heterogeneous etiologies, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. Finerenone has been shown to reduce fibrosis and inflammation in animal models of HFpEF, and clinical studies evaluating finerenone in HFpEF are ongoing.
Bayer AG has filed patents covering combinations of finerenone with SGLT2 inhibitors (such as empagliflozin and dapagliflozin), GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as semaglutide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, endothelin receptor antagonists, NHE3 inhibitors, and PCSK9 inhibitors. A triple combination of finerenone, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and a GLP-1 receptor agonist has also been patented for cardiorenal disease treatment.
Biomarkers used to monitor finerenone therapy include plasma NT-proBNP, urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), plasma potassium levels, eGFR, and high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT). These biomarkers can be used to assess the risk for cardiorenal events in patients being treated with finerenone for chronic kidney disease or heart failure.
Beyond diabetic kidney disease, finerenone is being investigated for IgA nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), lupus nephritis, non-diabetic glomerulonephritis, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). These applications are supported by finerenone's anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects in the kidney.
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References
- Bayer AG — US10532050B2: Finerenone for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (2020)
- Bayer AG — US11541053B2: Pharmaceutical compositions of finerenone (2023)
- Bayer AG — US20230277527A1: Finerenone for use in treating CKD associated with type 2 diabetes — biomarkers (2023)
- Bayer AG — WO2020169553A1: Finerenone for use in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (2020)
- Bayer AG — WO2020169552A1: Biomarkers for finerenone treatment efficacy in HFpEF (2020)
- Bayer AG — WO2024056576A1: Finerenone for use in treating heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (2024)
- Bayer AG — WO2024056577A1: Finerenone for use in treating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (2024)
- Bayer AG — WO2024056578A1: Finerenone for use in treating heart failure (2024)
- Bayer AG — US20240207248A1: Combination of finerenone and an SGLT2 inhibitor (2024)
- Bayer AG — WO2023083892A1: Combination comprising finerenone and a GLP-1 receptor agonist (2023)
- Bayer AG — WO2022063938A1: Triple combination of finerenone, SGLT2 inhibitor and GLP-1 receptor agonist (2022)
- Bayer AG — US20230346787A1: Combination of finerenone and an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (2023)
- Bayer AG — US20230172887A1: Combination of finerenone and a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator (2023)
- Bayer AG — US20240050453A1: Combination of finerenone and a PCSK9 inhibitor (2024)
- Bayer AG — US20220305016A1: Finerenone for use in the treatment of IgA nephropathy (2022)
- Bayer AG — US20240148722A1: Finerenone for use in treating focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (2024)
- Bayer AG — US20230172888A1: Finerenone for use in treating lupus nephritis (2023)
- Bayer AG — US20240065997A1: Finerenone for use in the treatment of CKD in patients with ADPKD (2024)
- Bayer AG — US20230089578A1: Finerenone for use in the treatment of fibrotic diseases (2023)
- AstraZeneca AB — US11207317B2: Non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for hypertension (2021)
- European Medicines Agency (EMA) — Regulatory information on finerenone (Kerendia)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — Finerenone approval and labeling
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) — Mineralocorticoid receptor biology and antagonism
- World Health Organization (WHO) — Cardiovascular and kidney disease treatment guidelines
All patent data and analysis on this page are sourced from PatSnap Eureka's proprietary innovation intelligence platform. General platform information is available at PatSnap.
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