The weight loss and diabetes drug making headlines has now expanded its coverage, the Food and Drug Administration has given Ozempic the green light to treat chronic kidney disease. Ozempic has gained the reputation of being a weight loss booster, but it’s expanding its health benefits once again.
FDA grants approval for Ozempic to treat kidney disease
Novo Nordisk, the company behind the injection, announced the decision on Tuesday, Jan. 28, which makes the drug one of the most versatile semaglutide medications available.
Ozempic was initially approved in 2017 to help glucose levels for those living with Type 2 diabetes. The FDA later expanded Ozempic’s benefits to aid in helping to combat heart disease.
“This approval for Ozempic allows us to more broadly address conditions within cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, which affects millions of adults and could have serious consequences if left untreated.”
Anna Windle, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Novo Nordisk.
In a press release, Novo Nordisk said 37 million adults in the United States are losing the ability to properly use their kidneys, and 40% of them are also considered diabetic.
Decision based on 2019 study
The FDA made its decision based on data from a study started in 2019 involving 3,500 patients with diabetes and kidney disease. Over the course of the study, patients were given a shot of 1 mg of semaglutide.
Results showed a 24% drop in major kidney and heart-related incidents when compared to the placebo.
The risk of a heart attack also dropped another 18%, and death risks went down another 20%. Experts said cardiovascular deaths were cut by 29%.
The European Union issued a similar approval to Ozempic for 27 of its countries in October of 2024.
