Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic cuts risk of kidney disease progression

Novo Nordisk‘s blockbuster drug Ozempic cut the chance of kidney disease progression and related health complications in diabetic patients, in keeping with initial late-stage trial results released Tuesday. 

Ozempic specifically lowered the chance of kidney disease progression and death from kidney or cardiovascular complications by 24% in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease in comparison with a placebo. 

The outcomes add to the growing evidence that the highly popular injection and similar drugs for weight reduction have broader health advantages for patients beyond treating Type 2 diabetes and helping them shed kilos. Those treatments skyrocketed in popularity over the past 12 months despite their mixed insurance coverage and hefty price tags.

Novo Nordisk said it should present full data from the study later this 12 months. The corporate also noted that it will file for an expanded approval of Ozempic based on the information in each the U.S. and Europe.

Chronic kidney disease could be a giant additional treatment opportunity for Ozempic. Roughly 40% of individuals with diabetes even have the condition. The disease involves a gradual lack of kidney function.

Notably, the Danish company ended the trial in October, a 12 months sooner than expected, in response to positive results.

The trial, called FLOW, first began in 2019 and followed roughly 3,500 patients with diabetes and moderate to severe chronic kidney disease.

The information comes as Novo Nordisk faces increased competition from Eli Lilly and tries to win expanded insurance coverage for its separate weight reduction injection Wegovy.

Last 12 months, a late-stage trial on Wegovy showed that it cut the chance of heart attacks and strokes by 20%. 

Clarification: This story was updated to reflect trial information Novo Nordisk clarified from an earlier press release.

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