Ozempic, a drug for diabetes and weight loss, continues to be the talk of the town. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novo Nordisk¡¯s diabetes-cum-weight loss medicine called Ozempic for patients suffering from both chronic kidney disease and diabetes.?
The approval has come after multiple clinical trials that have revealed how it lowered the risk of kidney failure, disease progression, and death due to heart diseases. The findings of the clinical trials are a breakthrough in managing diabetes-related diseases.?
The FDA has approved the usage of the Ozempic injections for major kidney and cardiovascular diseases in adults suffering from Type 2 diabetes. The approval has been given on the basis of a trial investigating the effects of once-a-week Ozempic injections.?
According to the trial investigations, a 24 per cent reduced risk of worsening kidney disease and kidney failure was noted in patients. While on the other hand, it also showed a 4.9 per cent lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases.?
Ozempic, a medication commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, helps lower the risk of kidney disease by improving blood sugar control and reducing inflammation. ¡°High blood sugar is known to take a toll on the kidneys by damaging them as time passes, and one can suffer from kidney disease,¡± says Dr. Puneet Bhuwania, Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.?
According to various studies, by lowering blood sugar levels, Ozempic is known to prevent kidney damage. It also tends to reduce blood pressure, help with weight management, and in turn, keep kidney health intact.
Ozempic helps to avoid protein leakage in urine, an early sign of kidney disease, and helps one keep kidney disease at bay. Dr. Bhuwania explains, ¡°Less protein loss tends to indicate that kidneys are functioning better and are less likely to suffer from damage over time. Diabetes is a precursor for kidney disease; medications like Ozempic provide a much-needed protective effect by saving one¡¯s kidneys.¡±
This approval gives patients a valuable tool to not only manage diabetes but also take care of their kidneys, reducing the chances of any complications. However, the expert will decide if you are suitable for Ozempic and then only advise you.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent among 30 to 40 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes in India. Complications of Type 2 Diabetes are largely driven by cardiovascular and kidney disorders globally, and India is no exception.
Recently, the US FDA has approved the injection of semaglutide to prevent and treat CKD in people with type 2 diabetes based on the results of the phase 3b Flow trial. Dr. Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology at Zandra Healthcare and Co-founder of the Rang De Neela Initiative, shares, ¡°The approval was based on findings from the FLOW trial, a large-scale study involving over 3,500 participants. The trial demonstrated that semaglutide reduced the risk of major kidney disease events by 24 per cent and decreased the risk of major cardiovascular events by 18 per cent in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.¡±
This marks the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for this indication. ¡°This is a landmark approval because semaglutide has been approved earlier for treating blood sugar levels and also reducing cardiovascular events in people with diabetes, along with its approval of reducing weight and reducing cardiovascular disease in people with obesity without diabetes,¡± adds Dr. Kovil.?
Hence, with 1 drug, apart from just reducing blood sugars without the risk of low sugars, one can treat and prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease in people with and without diabetes.
This drug can have a large impact on a population that is at high risk for cardiovascular and kidney disorders, like native Asian Indians.