Approved antifibrotic medication shows potential as non invasive treatment for premature ovarian insufficiency

Juntendo University researchers find that the drug finerenone reduces ovarian fibrosis, allowing follicles to grow in women with premature ovarian insufficiency.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:52 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Juntendo University Research Promotion Center

Mechanical barriers identified in premature infertility

Premature ovarian insufficiency affects a significant portion of women of childbearing age, often characterized by a failure of remaining follicles to develop despite high levels of follicle stimulating hormone. While residual follicles frequently exist in the ovaries of these patients, they typically remain dormant. Professor Kazuhiro Kawamura of Juntendo University and Professor Kui Liu of the University of Hong Kong investigated whether the physical environment of the ovary, specifically the presence of excess collagen, acts as a mechanical constraint that prevents these small follicles from maturing.

Repurposing kidney medication for reproductive health

The research team identified finerenone, an oral mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist typically used for chronic kidney disease, as a candidate for treating ovarian insufficiency. In laboratory models using immature mice, the administration of finerenone led to the successful development of mature oocytes. Further testing on adult mice over an eighteen week period demonstrated that those receiving the medication produced more offspring than a control group. Most notably, the drug also induced follicle formation in older mice that had become infertile due to age related ovarian insufficiency.

Reduction of collagen stiffness enables follicle growth

Gene expression analysis revealed that finerenone works by suppressing the production of collagen within the ovarian cortex. Excess collagen causes the tissue to stiffen, a process known as fibrosis, which physically restricts the expansion of small follicles. By alleviating these extracellular matrix constraints, the drug allows the follicles to develop naturally. The researchers also tested other antifibrotic medications, such as nintedanib and ruxolitinib, which confirmed the hypothesis that reducing tissue stiffness is a viable pathway for restoring follicular development.