Patients with type 2 diabetes who take semaglutide, the active ingredient in the popular drug Ozempic, may be less likely to develop complications from chronic kidney disease, according to a new study.
The Effects of Semaglutide on Kidney Diseases
Novo Nordisk published its research, which involved 3,533 patients from around the world, in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented it at the European Renal Association meeting in Stockholm. It showed that patients who received semaglutide had a 24% lower risk of death from cardiovascular and kidney disease compared to those who received a placebo.
Vlado Perkovic, a kidney researcher at the University of New South Wales Sydney, said, "These results show a lot of promise for changing how we treat people who are at high risk of complications related to diabetes." Novo Nordisk wants permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add information about Ozempic's use in people with chronic kidney disease to the drug's label.
About 850 million people worldwide have chronic kidney disease. This change could help millions of patients, especially in the US, where more than 1 in 7 adults have the condition.
Novo Nordisk's executive medical director, Michael Radin, said the trial demonstrates their commitment to bettering the lives of those with renal disease and type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, is a gastrointestinal hormone that regulates blood sugar and hunger. Ozempic was initially approved as a type 2 diabetic therapy in 2017.
In 2021, they repackaged it as Wegovy to help overweight or obese individuals who also suffer from another chronic medical condition lose weight. New research suggests that GLP-1 agonists also benefit the heart.
This has sparked more research on their possible therapeutic uses for conditions including addiction, sleep apnea, and Parkinson's disease. In March, the FDA gave Wegovy its all-clear to lower overweight individuals' heart disease risk.
Ozempic's Potential to Lower the Risk of Diseases
The study's findings showed that Ozempic and Wegovy could slow the development of chronic kidney disease and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events, kidney failure, stroke, and death in the participants. Compared to the placebo group, semaglutide had a 24% lower risk of events related to kidney disease, an 18% lower risk of significant heart problems, and a 20% lower risk of death.
Based on the good results of the kidney disease study, Novo Nordisk plans to ask the FDA to expand the label later this year. If passed, these changes could make it much easier to care for people with diabetes and kidney disease.
Researchers are still looking into how semaglutide might help treat a lot of different illnesses, such as gout, liver disease, cancer, dementia, and Parkinson's disease. For people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, the future looks bright.
The study is a big step forward in treating diabetes. It gives millions worldwide hope for better results and quality of life. As Novo Nordisk continues to try to get governmental approvals for semaglutide and find new uses for it, diabetes management is about to take a giant leap forward.
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