Ozempic Cuts Risk of Kidney Disease Death in People with Diabetes

image via New Scientist

May 28, 2024, 8:00 PM

• •Semaglutide, the same compound in obesity drug Wegovy, slashes risk of kidney failure and death for people with type 2 diabetes
• •Participants who received semaglutide were also 29% less likely to die from heart attacks and other major cardiovascular incidents than were those who got a placebo
• •The availability of semaglutide as a potential treatment could be game-changing

Ozempic, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been shown to reduce the risk of kidney failure and death in people with the condition. A study presented at a conference in Stockholm showed that people who took semaglutide, the generic name for Ozempic, were 24% less likely to have a major kidney disease event, such as kidney failure, than those who took a placebo. They were also 29% less likely to die from heart attacks and other major cardiovascular incidents, and 20% less likely to die from any cause during the trial period. Scientists are thrilled with the results and think that semaglutide will eventually be proved to help a more general population of people with kidney disease. This trial is a first step towards that goal, they say.

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