Results from a major clinical trial revealed the diabetes drug semaglutide (Ozempic) significantly reduced the risk of serious kidney disease complications, cardiovascular events, and death in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The FLOW trial studied around 3,700 patients and found that those taking semaglutide experienced:
- 32% lower risk of kidney disease progression, end-stage kidney disease or death from kidney causes
- 28% lower risk of death from any cause
- 25% lower risk of being hospitalized for heart failure
These results demonstrate semaglutide’s potential to dramatically improve outcomes for the estimated 40% of diabetics who develop chronic kidney disease – a serious complication raising risks of dialysis, kidney transplant and premature death.
The findings set the stage for semaglutide to secure expanded approvals to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events and slow kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes patients at high risk.
Novo Nordisk, which markets semaglutide as Ozempic and Wegovy, called the results “groundbreaking” and a “huge milestone” that may drive billions more in sales for the GLP-1 medication.
Analysts project peak annual sales could reach $9 billion or more if semaglutide garners approvals for chronic kidney disease and obesity indications in addition to diabetes.
The positive FLOW data continues validating the cardio-renal protective effects of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drug franchise, one of the pharmaceutical industry’s hottest areas.
