The Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic to be used to lessen the risk of kidney disease from getting worse, end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular disease-caused death for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Novo Nordisk announced the approval on Wednesday
Dr. Anna Windle, Novo Nordisk’s Senior Vice President of Clinical Development, Medical & Regulatory Affairs, said in a news release, “Chronic kidney disease is very serious and common in patients living with type 2 diabetes and represents a critical need for adults living with these comorbidities. This approval for Ozempic allows us to more broadly address conditions within cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, which affects millions of adults and could have serious consequences if left untreated.”
About 37 million adults in the country have chronic kidney disease, known as CKD, and that number is expected to increase with the aging population.
It is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes, with about 40% of people with type 2 also suffering from CKD.
With the approval, doctors can prescribe Ozempic specifically to treat CKD in diabetic patients, The New York Times reported.
The study looking at the benefits of using Ozempic to lessen the risk of CKD showed a 24% lower risk of worsening kidney function that would need dialysis or a transplant, compared to a placebo. The kidney decline was also slower in patients who used Ozempic than those who did not.
The New York Times reported that Ozempic was already approved to treat type 2 diabetes and lower the risk of cardiovascular issues in people who have both diabetes and heart disease history.
“The more we can delay the decline in kidney function, the better,” nephrologist Dr. Melanie Hoenig told the newspaper. She said she already prescribes it to some patients.
In the past, the Times said, doctors had few options for diabetics who take medication for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol which can be higher in people with CKD. They also take other medications to lower swelling and to manage iron, calcium and vitamin D.
At the same time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the kidneys.
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