Study: Ozempic slows disease, reduces cardiovascular risk in CKD, diabetes patients

Editor's Note

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic diabetes treatment and Wegovy weight-loss treatment, outperformed a placebo and demonstrated capacity to reduce risk of death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes in a recent study of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease spearheaded by manufacturer Novo Nordisk. Published May 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study also showed benefits of semaglutide for slowing kindey function decline and reducing risk of kidney-related or cardiovascular complications.

Specifically, semaglutide cut the risk of kidney disease-related events by 24%, the risk of a major heart problem by 18% and the risk of death by 20% in the manufacturer-run study. Serious adverse events were reported by 49.6% of the semaglutide group compared to 53.8% in patients receiving placebo.

As noted in a May 26 report in Becker’s Hospital Review, the long-term trial from Norvo Nordisk involved more than 3,500 participants and is the first to evaluate renal outcomes with a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Based on the kidney disease trial's results, the company plans to file for FDA label expansions later this year.