Bardoxolone methyl, previously known as RTA 402, is the lead molecule in Reata's portfolio of Antioxidant Inflammation Modulators (AIMs). The AIMs are potent inducers of the transcription factor Nrf2, an important biological target that controls the production of many of the body's antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. Because oxidative stress and inflammation occur throughout the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are known to contribute to loss of kidney function, agents that activate the Nrf2 pathway in patients with CKD may provide a novel method for preserving or improving kidney function. Bardoxolone methyl is currently being investigated as a potential oral once-a-day treatment for CKD.