According to a story from drugs.com, a combination therapy for chronic kidney disease has shown considerable potential in a recent phase IIb clinical trial. The combination being evaluated consisted of zibotentan and dapagliflozin. The study included 447 patients living with chronic kidney disease. The treatment took place over a period of 12 weeks and included three different treatment arms.
- The first arm was a high dose arm, in which patients were treated daily with 1.5 mg of zibotentan and 10 mg of dapagliflozin.
- The second was a low dose group, in which patients received a 0.25 mg dose of zibotentan with the same dose of dapagliflozin.
- The final arm consisted of patients receiving only the 10 mg dose of dapagliflozin.
The treatment results demonstrated that the combination was able to reduce albuminuria, as measured by urinary albumin-to-creatine ration (UACR). This decrease in UACR was -33.7% in the high dose group and -27% in the low dose group, when compared to treatment with dapagliflozin on its own. These results were first presented at the 2023 American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week. Overall, the findings support continued investigation of the combination treatment in a phase III clinical trial.
About Proteinuria
Proteinuria is a condition in which excess protein is found in the urine, with albuminuria, in which albumin is the type of protein that is found, being one of the most common forms. Albumin is the most common protein circulating in the plasma. Proteinuria is a key risk factor kidney function decline. Therefore, treatment of this condition may greatly reduce the progression of kidney disease.
About Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is an illness in which the functionality of the kidneys is affected over time. This progressive disease can occur over a period of months or years and often results in eventual kidney failure. This disease often causes no symptoms at first. There are a number of risk factors for chronic kidney disease, such as diabetes, glomerulonephritis, family history, and high blood pressure. The cause is not known in all cases. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as leg swelling, confusion, fatigue, vomiting, loss of appetite, heart disease, bone disease, anemia, and high blood pressure may appear. Treatment may include dietary changes, certain medications, and, in later stages, dialysis or kidney transplant. The most common cause of death for people with chronic kidney disease is cardiovascular disease, which may appear before the kidneys completely shut down. To learn more about chronic kidney disease, click here.
