Medication Slows Kidney Deterioration in Non-Diabetic Patients

SadaNews - A global study has shown that the medication "Finerenone" can significantly slow the deterioration of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease not related to diabetes.

Researchers, led by the University Medical Center in Groningen, Netherlands, explained that the study indicates the drug's benefits extend beyond diabetic patients, positively affecting those without the condition. The results were published on Thursday in the "New England Journal of Medicine."

Chronic kidney disease is a long-term health condition where kidney functions gradually decline, weakening their ability to filter blood and eliminate waste and excess fluids. Diabetes and high blood pressure are major causes, and, in advanced stages, it can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. The disease often develops slowly without clear symptoms in its early stages, making early diagnosis and monitoring critically important.

The study involved 1,584 adults with chronic kidney disease, who were followed for an average of over three years. All participants had declining kidney functions and elevated protein levels in urine, which are key indicators linked to the worsening of kidney damage.

Half of the participants received a daily dosage of "Finerenone," while the other half received a placebo, in addition to standard treatment for the condition.

The medication works to reduce inflammation and fibrosis, which contribute to the deterioration of kidney and heart functions. It received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for treating patients with chronic kidney disease related to type 2 diabetes.

The new study results showed that patients who received "Finerenone" experienced a slower decline in kidney function compared to the placebo group, with a difference described by researchers as statistically significant and clinically meaningful.

It also indicated that the use of the medication reduced the risk of serious complications, including worsening kidney function, the need for hospitalization due to heart failure, or death from cardiovascular diseases.

These complications were recorded in 13.9 percent of the patients who received "Finerenone," compared to 16.9 percent in the other group, amounting to a 23 percent reduction in risk level.

The results also showed a significant decrease in the amount of protein excreted in urine after six months of treatment, with levels decreasing by more than 41 percent on average among medication users, compared to only about 9 percent in the placebo group.

Moreover, over half of the patients who received "Finerenone" achieved a 30 percent reduction in urine protein levels, a marker associated with improved future kidney health prospects.

Researchers emphasized that these findings are particularly significant as previous studies on "Finerenone" primarily focused on patients with type 2 diabetes, while the new study demonstrated that the drug achieves similar benefits in non-diabetic patients, even though this group represents more than half of chronic kidney disease patients worldwide.