UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) announced last week that its combination therapy of ETA receptor antagonist zibotentan and SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin achieved dose-dependent reductions in urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) during a Phase IIb trial for chronic kidney disease (CKD). This development marks a significant step forward in the treatment of CKD.
Phase IIb Trial Results
The trial results indicated that the mean change from baseline in UACR was -52.5% for the high-dose group and -47.7% for the low-dose group, representing a reduction of 33.7% and 27.0% respectively compared to dapagliflozin alone. These figures suggest that the combination therapy may offer substantial benefits in managing CKD, a condition that affects millions worldwide.
Safety Profile and Fluid Retention
Furthermore, the low-dose daily regimen over 12 weeks resulted in an 8.8% rate of fluid retention events, which is comparable to the 7.9% observed in the dapagliflozin monotherapy group. This outcome is particularly noteworthy as it alleviates previous concerns that ETA receptor antagonists are associated with high rates of fluid retention, a common side effect that can impact the quality of life for patients.
Plans for Late-Stage Development
Encouraged by these positive results, AstraZeneca now plans to advance the combination therapy to late-stage development by the end of the year. This move underscores the company’s commitment to bringing innovative treatments to patients suffering from CKD and other related conditions.-Fineline Info & Tech
