New Drug Helps Millions Keep Their Kidneys Working Longer

Topic: Health

A new clinical trial has found that finerenone can slow down kidney damage in people with chronic kidney disease. The study was led by Dr. Hiddo Lambers Heerspink and involved 1,584 adults from around the world. Finerenone reduced the risk of serious health complications, such as heart failure and death.

A major international clinical trial has found that finerenone can significantly slow the loss of kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who do not have diabetes.

The research was led by clinical pharmacologist Dr. Hiddo Lambers Heerspink of the University Medical Center Groningen and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study enrolled 1,584 adults with CKD and followed them for an average of just over three years.

Every participant had impaired kidney function along with elevated levels of protein in the urine, which is a key warning sign that kidney damage may continue to worsen. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily dose of finerenone or a placebo. Both groups also continued receiving standard treatment with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers.

The study found that patients treated with finerenone experienced a statistically significant slowing in the decline of kidney function compared to those who received the placebo. This improvement was not only statistically significant but also meaningful in clinical practice.

Finerenone reduced the likelihood of serious health complications, including major kidney events, hospitalization for heart failure, and death from cardiovascular disease. In the finerenone group, 13.9 percent experienced such a complication, compared to 16.9 percent in the placebo group.

Why It Matters

This new treatment option is especially important for India, where chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 800 million adults worldwide. Many of these patients do not have access to effective treatments beyond standard care.

Key Facts

• The study enrolled 1,584 adults with CKD and followed them for an average of just over three years.
• Finerenone reduced the risk of serious health complications by 23 percent compared to a placebo.
• More than half of the patients who received finerenone achieved a reduction of at least 30 percent in the amount of protein in their urine.
• Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 800 million adults worldwide, with more than half being non-diabetic.
• Finerenone is a new treatment option for people with CKD who do not have diabetes.

Key Terms

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

A measure of how effectively the kidneys filter waste from the blood.

ACE inhibitors

A type of medication used to treat high blood pressure and protect kidney function.

Angiotensin receptor blockers

A type of medication used to treat high blood pressure and protect kidney function.

Implications

This new treatment option is especially important for India, where chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 800 million adults worldwide. Many of these patients do not have access to effective treatments beyond standard care.