FDA Approves Ozempic for Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

On January 28, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic for use in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. This approval marks an important milestone in kidney disease treatment, offering a new option to help reduce complications like heart disease, dialysis, or kidney transplant.

Ozempic belongs to a class of anti-obesity medications called GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs). They are prescribed to help manage type 2 diabetes, obesity, and kidney disease.

GLP-1 RAs act like a natural hormone that helps control blood sugar and digestion. 

They work by:

• Helping the pancreas release insulin after meals
• Telling the liver to release less sugar
• Slowing digestion to help you feel full longer
• Sending signals to the brain to reduce hunger

Learn more about GLP-1 RAs.

While Ozempic’s approval brings hope, many patients, caregivers, and families face challenges in accessing new treatments. One major hurdle is health insurance coverage, which varies by provider. 

Other common barriers include:

• Step therapy requirements: Insurance may require patients to try a lower-cost medication first.
• High out-of-pocket costs: Patients may have to cover a significant portion of the cost at the pharmacy.
• Medicare and Medicaid limitations: Medicare currently does not cover obesity medications, which can prevent people at risk for CKD from getting early treatment.

Learn more about kidney healthcare barriers. 

At the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), we are actively working to improve access to anti-obesity medications for people with kidney disease. 

Here’s how:

• Government drug price negotiations: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently announced plans to negotiate prices for GLP-1 RAs to lower costs for Medicare patients.
• Advocating for expanded coverage: NKF supports expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage for anti-obesity medications, especially for people at risk of kidney disease who need early intervention. One policy under consideration would make sure that people with obesity who are at risk for kidney disease can also access anti-obesity medications.

We will continue advocating for kidney disease patients to have access to the treatments they need.

Join Voices for Kidney Health to support kidney healthcare policies.