Health Canada approves Ozempic for kidney protection in Type 2 diabetics
Ozempic is the first GLP-1 drug approved in Canada to protect both kidneys and the heart in patients with Type 2 diabetes, said Ur, noting that the cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide have been extensively studied.
'The benefit of Ozempic is that you also get weight loss, which is a very important goal for most people (with Type 2 diabetes). That's a very exciting combination,' he said.
Some people experience gastrointestinal side effects when they take Ozempic, Ur said, including nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea.
More severe complications can include gall bladder inflammation and pancreatitis, but most side effects are minor, he said.
The benefit of slowing or stopping progressive kidney disease in people with diabetes would outweigh the risks of minor side effects, Ur said.
The FLOW trial was conducted in 28 countries, including Canada. The researchers randomized 3,533 people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease to either receive Ozempic or a placebo. The study was conducted between 2019 and early 2024.
Participants were followed for an average of 3.4 years to monitor for 'major kidney disease events,' including kidney failure leading to dialysis or transplantation, a 50-per-cent reduction in kidney function measured by glomerular filtration rate, or death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes.
The Ozempic or placebo doses were given to participants on top of other medications they were taking, including drugs to control blood pressure and blood sugar.
Although reducing blood pressure and blood sugar have beneficial effects for the kidneys, Cherney said Ozempic appeared to have an additional positive impact on kidney function and future research can help pinpoint how that works.
'Another weapon against kidney disease is incredibly powerful. And these medicines will often turn patients around who are doing very poorly because it addresses so many different issues — the kidney, the cardiovascular, the metabolic, and the weight,' said Cherney.
Ur said it's possible Ozempic could play a role in reducing inflammation in the kidneys and that might be one explanation for its positive effect.
Regardless of the reason for its effectiveness, he said the FLOW trial and Health Canada's approval reinforces the importance of using the drug 'relatively early in the disease process' to minimize kidney damage in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
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