In results presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting in San Francisco, AstraZeneca’s Farxiga showed a 47% reduction in the composite of kidney function decline, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or renal death in a pre-specified analysis from a Phase III DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial.

The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor was evaluated in 17,160 patients with type II diabetes and predominantly preserved renal function, irrespective of underlying atherosclerotic CV disease.

Elisabeth Björk, senior vice president, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: “Heart failure and renal diseases are two of the most common and early complications experienced by people living with type II diabetes, and are too often overlooked. They contribute to a growing economic burden on the global healthcare system and can lead to fatal outcomes for patients. These data continue to offer clinically relevant evidence of the early cardio-renal effects of Farxiga.”

People with diabetes have a six to 12 times higher risk of developing ESRD and are approximately twice as likely to develop chronic kidney disease than those without.

Farxiga is an inhibitor of SGLT2 indicated as additional treatment to  to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with type II diabetes. It is not approved to reduce the risk of renal or CV death, or to slow the progression of kidney disease.