Bayer announces EU approval for Kerendia tablets, a new treatment for adults with chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes

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BERLIN , February 22, 2022 (press release) –

 

Not intended for U.S. and UK Media

Kerendia is the first non-steroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist to demonstrate positive kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) / The approval is based on the results of the Phase III FIDELIO-DKD study investigating the efficacy and safety of Kerendia on kidney and CV outcomes in patients with CKD associated with T2D / Following the approval of finerenone by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, finerenone was recently included in the newly established section “Chronic Kidney Disease and Risk Management” within the treatment guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), with a Grade A recommendation for patients with CKD and T2D who are at increased risk for cardiovascular events or CKD progression

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization in the European Union (EU) for finerenone under the brand name Kerendia®. Kerendia® (10 mg or 20 mg), a non-steroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, is indicated for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (stage 3 and 4 with albuminuria) associated with type 2 diabetes in adults.

“Even when blood glucose levels and blood pressure are well-controlled, the risk of chronic kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events remains high in these patients,” said Professor Peter Rossing, Head of Complications Research at the Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. “As most patients have no symptoms in the early stages, people with type 2 diabetes should regularly be monitored by their doctor for the earliest signs of kidney disease. Finerenone is the first non-steroidal, selective MR antagonist specifically developed as a new treatment option to protect patients from further kidney damage, by addressing a key cause of disease progression which is unaddressed by currently available therapies.”

Finerenone is different to existing CKD in T2D treatments. It acts by blocking mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) overactivation, which is thought to contribute to CKD progression and cardiovascular damage.

“The worrying reality is that chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, which ultimately means that the kidneys no longer support the body’s needs and patients need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. Early intervention is associated with a better prognosis, and it is key to prevent further end-organ damage by reducing the risk of kidney function loss,” said Dr. Michael Devoy, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Medical Affairs and Pharmacovigilance at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “The approval of Kerendia offers physicians a new path to protect these vulnerable patients by reducing their risk of cardiovascular events and delaying kidney disease progression.”

The approval of Kerendia in the EU is based on the results of the pivotal Phase III FIDELIO-DKD study, presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Kidney Week 2020 and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in October 2020.

In July 2021, Kerendia was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on the positive results of the FIDELIO-DKD Phase III study. In December 2021, Kerendia received a Grade A recommendation in the new treatment guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 2022” for the treatment of patients with CKD and T2D who are at increased risk for cardiovascular events or CKD progression or are unable to use a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor.

Finerenone has also been submitted for marketing authorization in multiple other countries worldwide and these applications are currently under review.

About Kerendia® (finerenone)
Kerendia is a non-steroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist that in preclinical studies has been shown to block harmful effects of MR overactivation. In T2D, MR overactivation is thought to contribute to CKD progression and cardiovascular damage which can be driven by metabolic, hemodynamic or inflammatory and fibrotic factors.

The Phase III study programme with finerenone, FINEOVATE, currently comprises five Phase III studies, FIDELIO-DKD, FIGARO-DKD, FINEARTS-HF, FIND-CKD, and FIONA.

Having randomized more than 13,000 patients with CKD and T2D around the world, the Phase III program with finerenone in CKD and T2D comprises two completed and published studies, evaluating the effect of finerenone versus placebo on top of standard of care on both renal and cardiovascular outcomes. FIDELIO-DKD (FInerenone in reducing kiDnEy faiLure and dIsease prOgression in Diabetic Kidney Disease) investigated the efficacy and safety of finerenone in comparison to placebo in addition to standard of care on the reduction of kidney failure and kidney disease progression in approximately 5,700 patients with CKD and T2D. FIGARO-DKD (FInerenone in reducinG cArdiovascular moRtality and mOrbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease) investigated the efficacy and safety of finerenone versus placebo in addition to standard of care on the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in approximately 7,400 patients with CKD and T2D.

FIDELITY (FInerenone in chronic kiDney diseasE and type 2 diabetes: Combined FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD Trial programme analYsis), including the FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD studies, comprises the largest Phase III cardiorenal outcomes clinical trial program to evaluate the occurrence of progression of kidney disease as well as fatal and nonfatal CV events in >13,000 patients with CKD and T2D. The prespecified FIDELITY pooled analysis investigated the efficacy and safety of finerenone across the spectrum of patients with CKD in T2D and provided insights into the relationship between CKD stage (based on baseline Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes risk categories) and the effects of finerenone on composite cardiovascular and kidney-specific endpoints.

In November 2021, Bayer announced the initiation of FIONA, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study, to investigate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of finerenone, in addition to standard of care, in approximately 200 pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and severely increased proteinuria.

In September 2021, Bayer announced the initiation of the Phase III study FIND-CKD, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study to investigate the efficacy and safety of finerenone in addition to guideline-directed therapy on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in more than 1,500 patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease etiologies, including hypertension and chronic glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys).

In June 2020, Bayer announced the initiation of the FINEARTS-HF study, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study which will investigate finerenone compared to placebo in more than 5,500 patients with symptomatic heart failure (New York Heart Association class II-IV) with preserved ejection fraction, i.e., a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥40%. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate superiority of finerenone over placebo in reducing the rate of the composite endpoint of cardiovascular death and total (first and recurrent) heart failure (HF) events (defined as hospitalizations for HF or urgent HF visits).

About Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and potentially deadly condition that is widely underrecognized. CKD progresses silently and unpredictably, with many symptoms not appearing until the disease is well-advanced. CKD is one of the most frequent complications arising from diabetes and is also an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Up to 40% of all patients with type 2 diabetes develop chronic kidney disease. Despite guideline-directed therapies, patients with CKD and T2D remain at high risk of CKD progression and cardiovascular events. It is estimated that CKD affects more than 160 million people with T2D worldwide. Chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes is the main cause of end stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. Patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes are three times more likely to die from a cardiovascular-related cause than those with type 2 diabetes alone.

About Bayer’s Commitment in Cardiovascular and Kidney Diseases
Bayer is an innovation leader in the area of cardiovascular diseases, with a long-standing commitment to delivering science for a better life by advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. The heart and the kidneys are closely linked in health and disease, and Bayer is working in a wide range of therapeutic areas on new treatment approaches for cardiovascular and kidney diseases with high unmet medical needs. The cardiology franchise at Bayer already includes a number of products and several other compounds in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. Together, these products reflect the company’s approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to impact the way that cardiovascular diseases are treated.

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2020, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 41.4 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.


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Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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