In recent years, the medical community has been abuzz with the potential of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Now, new findings from the FLOW study have shown that semaglutide can significantly reduce the risk of major kidney disease events, cardiovascular outcomes, and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The FLOW Study
The FLOW (Evaluate Renal Function with Semaglutide Once Weekly) study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled international trial comprising 3,533 patients, with a median follow-up period of 3.4 years. The trial was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in preventing major kidney outcomes, specifically kidney failure, substantial loss of kidney function, and death from kidney or cardiovascular causes, in individuals with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Semaglutide’s Impact on Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Outcomes
Participants who received semaglutide had a 24% risk reduction for the composite primary endpoint, including kidney outcomes and death due to cardiovascular and kidney causes, compared to those who received placebo1. This reduction risk was consistent across both kidney-specific and cardiovascular death outcomes1.
Secondary endpoints also showed significant improvements with semaglutide. Specifically, the total eGFR slope was 1.16 ml/min/1.73 m^2/year slower, the risk of major cardiovascular events was decreased by 18%, and the risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 20%.
A New Pillar of Treatment
Based on these results, experts anticipate that regulatory agencies and guidelines would incorporate this into the label for the drug and into all guidelines as the recommended care for people with diabetic kidney disease. The data suggest the addition of semaglutide as a fourth pillar to the guideline-recommended pillars of treatment for CKD and diabetes.
Conclusion
These benefits signify a profound clinical impact saving kidneys, hearts, and lives, for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Additionally, the reassuring safety findings further support the strong potential value of semaglutide in this population. This evidence of efficacy, combined with fewer serious adverse events in the semaglutide group, offers hope to millions of patients globally who face the daunting prospect of chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, and their related complications
