Semaglutide should be a first-line treatment option for adults with diabetic chronic kidney disease and albuminuria, say renal specialists.

It follows a landmark Australian-led trial, funded by Novo Nordisk, which showed the GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) cut the risk of major kidney events — including kidney failure and death — by 24% compared with placebo.

The renoprotective effects were in addition to improved glycaemic control and weight loss, according to researchers from the FLOW (Evaluate Renal Function with Semaglutide Once Weekly) trial.

“The magnitude of the benefits observed in our trial provides confidence that the use of semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD will reduce the risk of kidney failure and slow the decline in the eGFR, as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and death,” they wrote.