A recent study led by Hiddo Lambers Heerspink, a clinical pharmacologist at the University Medical Center Groningen, has found that the drug finerenone can reduce protein excretion in the urine of patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. This reduction indicates a protective effect on kidney function and suggests that finerenone may be an effective treatment for kidney disease in type 1 diabetes.
Key Findings
- Finerenone reduces protein excretion: The study found that finerenone reduced protein excretion in the urine by about 25% in patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
- Safe and well-tolerated: Finerenone was found to be safe and well-tolerated, except for a slightly elevated potassium level in the blood.
- First new drug in 30 years: Finerenone is the first new drug in over 30 years that has shown to be effective and safe for treating kidney disease in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Implications
The study’s findings suggest that finerenone may be a valuable treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The drug’s ability to reduce protein excretion in the urine is a promising indicator of its potential to slow kidney disease progression.