Health Canada Approves Ozempic for Diabetes and Kidney Disease

Health Canada has licensed Ozempic (semaglutide injection) as the first-and-only drug to be used for once-weekly treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and for the reduction of the risk of progression of kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The approval is supported by data from the landmark FLOW trial, in which semaglutide 1 mg decreased the risk of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular and kidney death by 24 percent versus placebo.

The global trial recruited 3,533 patients from 28 countries and was halted early because of efficacy.

Dr. David Cherney, senior scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute said, "Chronic kidney disease affects 30 to 50 percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes and has a vastly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The FLOW trial showed that semaglutide decreased the risk of kidney disease progression, cardiovascular death or kidney failure, giving patients a better hope of avoiding catastrophic complications."

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Seconding this, Dr. Alice Cheng, an endocrinologist with Trillium Health Partners, emphasized awareness. "Many individuals who have type 2 diabetes are unaware that they have CKD. The FLOW study adds another tried-and-true tool to slow the progression of kidney disease and lower cardiovascular risk,  one that we already know very well. More tools mean more options."

CKD encompasses approximately 4 million Canadians and remains undiagnosed in its early stages. With this new approval, Ozempic now moves beyond diabetes treatment to treat two of the most severe complications present in patients, kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.