Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide) has demonstrated significant benefits in slowing kidney dysfunction progression in type 2 diabetes patients, reducing the risk of kidney failure, heart problems, stroke, and death. Detailed results from a late-stage trial were presented at the European Renal Association meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The trial, involving 3,533 patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, showed that weekly 1-milligram injections of Ozempic reduced the combined risk of kidney complications and cardiovascular events by 24% over 3.4 years compared to a placebo. Study leader Dr. Vlado Perkovic emphasized the clinical importance of these benefits for high-risk patients, supporting semaglutide’s therapeutic role.
Kidney health, measured by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), declined more slowly in Ozempic recipients than in those on placebo. The trial was stopped early after an independent monitoring committee confirmed Ozempic’s clear benefits.
Ozempic, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, shares the same active ingredient as Novo Nordisk’s popular obesity drug Wegovy. The trial did not require participants to be obese, aiming to demonstrate broader health benefits to secure wider insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs from Novo and rival Eli Lilly.
As reported by Reuters, the data revealed that patients on Ozempic had an 18% lower risk of major adverse heart events and a 20% lower risk of death from any cause. Gastrointestinal issues led to study withdrawal for 13.2% of Ozempic users, compared to 11.9% for the placebo group.