About 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone, and half will have another within 10 years. Most pass with fluids and pain relief; larger stones are treated with shockwaves, ureteroscopy or keyhole surgery. Research is focused on preventing recurrence and on gentler, office-based ways to break stones.
- 195studies open or running
- 3phase 3 trials
- 1,549papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Ultrasound stone-breaking device clearedHappened
Break Wave met its pivotal trial goals and received FDA clearance in May 2026.
Water pills did not prevent recurrenceHappened
In NOSTONE, hydrochlorothiazide at any dose matched placebo.
NSAIDs for stone painHappened 3,593 people in trials
Across 29 trials, anti-inflammatory painkillers eased renal colic.
3,593: people in 29 trials.
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6 months
by May 2027
Office-based ultrasound stone treatmentPossible
Peer-reviewed Break Wave results and first clinic use will show how it compares with shockwaves and ureteroscopy.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
Other thiazides tested properlyPossible
A Bern trial measures how indapamide and chlorthalidone change stone-forming urine chemistry; due June 2027.
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3 years
by late 2029
Flushing fragments out after ureteroscopyPossible
FIREStones (374 people) tests furosemide to clear leftover fragments; due April 2028.
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5 years
by late 2031
A diabetes drug to prevent stonesPossible -30% uric acid saturation
EMPASTONE (400 people) tests whether empagliflozin plus diet counseling prevents recurrence; due 2030.
-30%: uric acid saturation in uric acid stone formers.
Living drugs for high oxalateLong shot
Engineered gut bacteria that break down oxalate are in early human testing.
The research paths
Prevention drugs
-30% uric acid saturationDetails and 3 trialsHide
SGLT2 inhibitors, better thiazides, and gut microbes that degrade oxalate.
WatchEMPASTONE.
Stone procedures
Details and 1 trialsHide
Ultrasound devices, suction and better fragment clearance.
WatchBreak Wave peer-reviewed data; FIREStones.
Borrowed from other conditions
From Diabetes and heart failure
Empagliflozin
Phase 3
An SGLT2 inhibitor that changes urine chemistry.
From Synthetic biology
Engineered bacteria
Phase 1/2a
Gut microbes built to break down oxalate.
Open to join now
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Recurrent stone formers, Switzerland
Empagliflozin with diet counseling
Locations and eligibility → -
Kidney stones, France
Furosemide during ureteroscopy
Locations and eligibility → -
Calcium stone formers, Switzerland
Indapamide or chlorthalidone
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Kidney stones trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
What just happened
Break Wave meets goals, gets FDA clearance
Company report.
Engineered microbe for oxalate
Science.
Standard treatment today
- Passing a stoneNSAIDs for pain, fluids; tamsulosin for some lower ureter stones.
- Larger or stuck stonesShockwave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy with laser, or keyhole surgery (PCNL) for large stones.
- PreventionLots of fluid, less salt and animal protein, normal calcium intake; potassium citrate or allopurinol by stone type.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Stone type (calcium oxalate, uric acid, others) changes which prevention works.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Kidney stones trials recruiting now →