Dr. Jonathan M Whittamore, Ph.D.

Tenapanor

for Kidney Stones

This pilot study is proposing a novel approach to directly target intestinal oxalate absorption with the drug Tenapanor, which was recently FDA-approved for treating hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Tenapanor works by blocking paracellular phosphate absorption by the intestine, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly defined. Since phosphate and oxalate ions are absorbed through the same paracellular pathway, and are of similar size and charge, Tenapanor is hypothesized to also reduce dietary oxalate absorption and consequently lower urinary oxalate excretion.