A clinical trial found that injections of Ozempic weekly reduced the risk of kidney disease worsening by 24% in people who also had diabetes. Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic to reduce risks linked to chronic kidney disease in diabetes patients. The drug, made by Novo Nordisk, was initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes.
A Phase 3 clinical trial found that weekly injections of Ozempic (semaglutide) lowered the risk of worsening kidney disease by 24% in diabetes patients. It also reduced the risk of kidney failure and death from heart disease by about 5%, according to the company.
Chronic kidney disease is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, which is among the top causes of death in the US and globally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that about one-third of adults with diabetes also suffer from chronic kidney disease.
The trial tested Ozempic alongside standard treatments, not as a replacement. Standard care includes medicines like ACE inhibitors and ARBs to manage blood pressure. The study involved 3,500 adults from 28 countries. It began in 2019 and lasted about three and a half years on average.
With this approval, Ozempic becomes the most broadly indicated drug in its class. It can now be prescribed for multiple medical conditions.
Novo Nordisk is also studying how semaglutide slows kidney disease. Stephen Gough, the company’s global chief medical officer, said that while the exact mechanism is unclear, the benefits are strong. The trial ended early due to positive results, and no new safety risks were found.
“This really means something for patients,” Gough told CNN. “It impacts kidney disease, heart disease, and overall survival.”
Ozempic and other semaglutide drugs like Wegovy have been in short supply due to high demand. The FDA now lists Ozempic as “available,” but demand remains strong.
“This medicine is already in diabetes and renal clinics, so we hope uptake will be quick,” Gough said. He believes the trial data will help doctors make better treatment decisions. “It helps focus treatments on the patients who need them the most.”
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