Ozempic Approved for Chronic Kidney Disease: High Cost and Patent Concerns Emerge
The FDA approved Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic to treat chronic kidney disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes, expanding its use beyond diabetes management. This approval allows Ozempic to reduce the risk of kidney disease progression, kidney failure, and cardiovascular death in this patient population. A late-stage trial demonstrated Ozempic significantly reduced severe kidney outcomes by 24%, slowed kidney function decline, and lowered cardiovascular event risk. The approval highlights the broader health benefits of GLP-1 drugs, impacting treatment for comorbid conditions frequently found together.
John Q. Hosedrinker