ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Online): Type 2 diabetes is a condition that results from the body no longer responding to insulin, the hormone that controls blood glucose levels.
People with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Semaglutide — sold under the brand name Ozempic — is a drug that, in conjunction with diet and exercise, improves blood glucose (sugar) control in people with diabetes.
Now, trial results show that semaglutide may also reduce the progression of kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease affects one in three adultsTrusted Source with diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of chronic kidney disease if blood glucose (sugar) levels are not controlled.
The resulting damage to blood vessels and nephronsTrusted Source in the kidneys means they cannot function effectively.
As the early stages of kidney disease cause few or no symptoms, people with diabetes should manage their blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They should also get regular checks from their doctor.
SemaglutideTrusted Source, which is marketed as Ozempic, is one of a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These mimic a hormone — GLP-1 — that makes the body produce more insulin, reduces appetite and gives feelings of fullness.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, in addition to diet and exercise.
As well as helping control blood glucose, it may also reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. One study has shown that it could also reduce inflammation, which may explain these other health effects.
Dr. Joshua J. Neumiller, PharmD, American Diabetes Association Board president-elect for healthcare and education, told Medical News Today that “[b]uilding evidence suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists suppress inflammation and reduce oxidative stress and fibrosis in the kidney, together slowing [chronic kidney disease] progression.”
Headline results show kidney disease reduction
Now, the manufacturer of Ozempic — Novo Nordisk — has announced headline results of their latest trial, suggesting that semaglutide can reduce the risk of kidney disease progression by 24% in people who have type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The detailed results of the FLOW trialTrusted Source will be presented at a scientific conference later this year. They have not yet appeared in a peer-reviewed journal.
Prof. Peter Rossing, research leader at the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the researchers involved in the trial, spoke to MNT about these findings.
He emphasized:
“This is a very significant finding; over 500 million people have diabetes, and 30-40% have chronic kidney disease, and we need treatments to stop or reduce progression of the kidney disease as well as to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease which is high in this population.”
Prof. Rossing previously co-authored a paper explaining the rationale, design and baseline data of the FLOW trial.
Dr. Neumiller, who was not involved in this research agreed with this view, noting that “[t]hese headline results from FLOW are very important for people with [type 2 diabetes] and [chronic kidney disease] and the clinicians who care for them.“
“People with [type 2 diabetes] and [chronic kidney disease] are at amplified risk for cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality and progression to kidney failure. Treatment options capable of mitigating heart and kidney risk in this population are greatly needed,” he told us.
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