London, United KIngdom

As the number of prescriptions for the appetite-suppressing medication grows into the millions globally, scientists are discovering the benefits and drawbacks of Ozempic in real time.

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What began as a diabetic treatment now appears to be very promising for heart health, even for patients who do not lose much weight, and doctors are discovering that the drug may also boost renal function.

According to a big multinational trial supported by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic's pharmaceutical supplier, the kidneys appear to benefit when the drug is administered at a lower dose than is typically used for diabetes or weight reduction.

More than 3,500 people with type 2 diabetes and chronic renal disease, a combination that increases the risk of kidney failure and occasionally fatal cardiovascular events like heart attacks, participated in the experiment. The participants came from 28 different countries.

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Half of the study participants were randomly assigned to receive a weekly modest dosage of semaglutide, the active component in Ozempic, between June 2019 and May 2021. Half of the group was given a placebo.

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When compared to the placebo group, those who received the weekly injections lost kidney function at a slower rate, had a lower chance of renal failure, had lower systolic blood pressure, and weighed less.

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After 3.4 years on Ozempic, participants had a 24 per cent reduced risk of significant renal events, an 18 per cent lower chance of having a heart attack or another major cardiovascular event, and a 20 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause.

Initial research, both with and without commercial funding, suggests that Ozempic may enhance kidney function, which is important for eliminating waste and fluid from the body and maintaining blood pressure.

Indirect effects of the medication include reducing blood pressure, body weight, and blood glucose levels, all of which can lessen kidney pressure.

For the time being, they are only hypotheses. More study is needed to determine how semaglutide and comparable medications affect the various organs of the body.

Researchers are currently looking into whether this type of drug is effective for chronic kidney disease in general, or if it is only beneficial for diabetic kidney disease patients.

(With inputs from agencies)