Ozempic Approved By FDA For Chronic Kidney Disease

Topline
The Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic for treating patients with chronic kidney disease on Tuesday, marking the latest authorized use for Novo Nordisk’s popular drug known for diabetes and weight loss.
Regulators have approved the drug as a treatment for weight loss, Type 2 diabetes and lowering the … [+]
Key Facts
The FDA said Ozempic can be used to reduce the risk of kidney disease worsening, kidney failure and death from cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The agency cited findings from a late-stage trial by Novo Nordisk, which reported in March 2024 that—in a trial of more than 3,500 people with type 2 diabetes—Ozempic lowered the risk of kidney disease progression and death from kidney or cardiovascular complications by 24% compared to a placebo.
Patients who used Ozempic also reported slower rates of kidney decline, Novo Nordisk said.
The European Union’s health regulators said in December that Novo Nordisk could expand its label for Ozempic, citing the same study, saying the drug could include information about reducing the risk of chronic kidney disease-related events in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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Surprising Fact
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about one in every three adults with diabetes have chronic kidney disease. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause kidney disease, the agency said, because diabetes can reduce how well kidneys can filter waste. People with diabetes also develop high blood pressure, which can damage the kidneys, according to the CDC.
What Has Ozempic Been Approved For?
The FDA has approved Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, but it’s also known for its use off-label for weight loss. The agency has authorized Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy—which shares the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as Ozempic—for weight loss and lowering the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes.
Key Background
More studies have been carried out in recent years about the other benefits of drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, which belong to a class of medications known as GLP-1 agonists. These drugs mimic the function of a gut hormone involved in regulating blood sugar and appetite, leading to their approval for treating diabetes and obesity. Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound has been approved for treating obesity as well as sleep apnea, after the FDA said the drug resulted in a “statistically significant” reduction in apnea events in a late-stage trial. Some studies suggest GLP-1 could be used to treat alcohol use disorder and boost mood, cognitive function and alleviate symptoms among patients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.More studies have been carried out in recent years about the other benefits of drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, which belong to a class of medications known as GLP-1 agonists. These drugs mimic the function of a gut hormone involved in regulating blood sugar and appetite, leading to their approval for treating diabetes and obesity. Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound has been approved for treating obesity as well as sleep apnea, after the FDA said the drug resulted in a “statistically significant” reduction in apnea events in a late-stage trial. Some studies suggest GLP-1 could be used to treat alcohol use disorder and boost mood, cognitive function and alleviate symptoms among patients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
Further Reading
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