The Food and Drug Administration has approved Ozempic for treating chronic kidney disease, expanding the authorized uses of Novo Nordisk’s widely known drug for diabetes and weight loss.
The FDA stated that Ozempic can help reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure, and cardiovascular-related deaths in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
This decision was based on a late-stage trial by Novo Nordisk, which reported in March 2024 that among more than 3,500 participants with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic reduced the risk of kidney disease progression and death from kidney or cardiovascular complications by 24% compared to a placebo.
Novo Nordisk also noted that patients using Ozempic experienced a slower rate of kidney decline.
In December, European Union health regulators permitted Novo Nordisk to expand Ozempic’s label, citing the same study and allowing the drug to include information about lowering the risk of chronic kidney disease-related complications in adults with type 2 diabetes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in three adults with diabetes has chronic kidney disease. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can impair kidney function by reducing their ability to filter waste. Additionally, diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, further damaging the kidneys.
The FDA has approved Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, though it is also commonly used off-label for weight loss. Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, has been approved for weight loss and reducing cardiovascular risks like heart attacks and strokes.
Recent studies have explored the broader benefits of GLP-1 agonists, a class of drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy. These medications mimic a gut hormone responsible for blood sugar and appetite regulation, leading to their approval for treating diabetes and obesity.
Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound has also been approved for obesity and sleep apnea after a late-stage trial demonstrated a significant reduction in apnea episodes. Some studies suggest that GLP-1 drugs could also aid in treating alcohol use disorder, improving mood and cognitive function, and alleviating symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
