Rare kidney disease patient finds relief after experimental drug gains FDA approval

While coping with a pandemic, a farmhouse renovation and two young children, Michelle Williams ignored rising blood pressure until swelling and fatigue intensified. Early medical visits failed to identify the cause, and a nephrologist’s referral led to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, later revised to IC-MPGN, an immune-mediated kidney disease affecting roughly one to four per million people. Traditional regimens of steroids and immunosuppressants offered little benefit, leaving her with a grim prognosis.

In November 2024, her doctor learned of pegcetacoplan, an investigational drug showing promise for IC-MPGN, and she joined the trial in February 2025. Within weeks her condition improved dramatically, and six months later the FDA approved the drug, marketed as Empaveli, for adults and children over 12. Ongoing monitoring shows sustained remission, reduced swelling, and a dramatically better quality of life.