By Fineline Cube 
German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN) announced results from the Phase II CONFIDENCE study, which demonstrated that the combination of Kerendia (finerenone) and the SGLT-2 inhibitor empagliflozin significantly reduces the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated chronic kidney disease (CKD). This reduction was observed compared to either drug used alone.
Study Results
The CONFIDENCE study revealed that dual therapy with finerenone and empagliflozin achieved a 52% reduction in UACR from baseline to day 180. This represents a 29% and 32% greater relative reduction compared to finerenone or empagliflozin monotherapy, respectively. Notably, a UACR reduction exceeding 30%, the threshold recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for slowing CKD progression, was observed within just 14 days of combined treatment initiation.
Patient Outcomes and Safety
Nearly three-quarters of patients achieved a ≥30% UACR reduction from baseline, which is 20% more than with either monotherapy. The safety profile of the combination therapy was consistent with the individual drug profiles, and treatment benefits were observed across all prespecified subgroups, including patients with high comorbidity burdens.-Fineline Info & Tech