Approximately 850 million people globally (9.1% of the world’s population) have chronic kidney disease (CKD). The number of affected individuals has grown steadily during the past 20 years and is on track to continue rising. Existing drugs, such as RAAS inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, are commonly prescribed, but their effectiveness varies from patient to patient. Moreover, these drugs can slow disease progression but cannot stop it.

Now, a research team from the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes in Aguascalientes, Mexico, argues that cannabinoid pathways may serve as a novel therapeutic target. Their discussion of this possibility appears in Frontiers in Pharmacology.