Following successful clinical trials and approvals for weight loss, accumulating evidence reported this year supports positive effects of incretin agonists — including semagludide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) and tirzepatide (a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist) — on cardiovascular and kidney function. The FLOW trial showed that in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, those treated with semaglutide had a 24% lower risk of major kidney disease events (including kidney failure, cardiovascular events and death) than that of those receiving placebo. A prespecified analysis showed that these benefits were consistent regardless of concomitant SGLT2 inhibitor use (which is indicated for kidney protection). More positive news came from the SUMMIT trial of tirzepatide, which reduced the risk of heart failure events and also improved symptoms and physical limitations in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity.

Original references: N. Engl. J. Med. 391, 109–121 (2024); N. Engl. J. Med. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2410027 (2024)