Semaglutide medications such as Ozempic can significantly reduce the risk of kidney complications, heart issues and death in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to a study published Friday.

Trial participants who were given a weekly injection of semaglutide had a 24% lower risk of experiencing a major kidney disease event — such as losing most of their kidney function or needing dialysis or a transplant — compared to the placebo group, the study found.

Patients who received semaglutide were also 29% less likely to die from heart issues and 20% less likely to die for any reason than those in the placebo group. 

The study monitored 3,533 people who had Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease — about half received semaglutide while they rest were given a placebo. The median follow-up with the patients was 3.4 years.

The research was funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, the Type 2 diabetes shot that people have also used off-label for weight loss. The study was conducted by researchers at various universities and institutions around the world, including the University of Washington School of Medicine, Stanford Medicine and University of Chicago Medicine.

The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and also presented Friday at a European Renal Association meeting in Stockholm. 

Researchers say the trial will open the door for new treatment strategies that could help millions of people globally. Dr. Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of development, told The New York Times, the company plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration to update Ozempic’s authorization label to include reducing the progression of chronic kidney disease or complications in people with Type 2 diabetes.

“These benefits signify a profound clinical impact saving kidneys, hearts and lives for patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease,” Vlado Perkovic, provost at University of New South Wales Sydney and lead author of the study, said in his presentation in Stockholm.

Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million Americans have diabetes — 90% to 95% of whom have Type 2. 

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use insulin properly. It can cause heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

While Type 2 diabetes can be managed through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise as well as medication, many people have continued to experience declining kidney function and serious outcomes, fueling interest in a new wave of drugs.

Ozempic helps the pancreas produce more insulin when someone’s blood sugar is high and prevent the liver from making and releasing too much sugar. 

The FDA already has approved Ozempic to lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or death in adults with Type 2 diabetes. 

The regulator also has approved two other semaglutide drugs: Rybelsus tablets for Type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss.

Ozempic’s website notes that it is not authorized by the FDA for weight loss, adding that it has not conducted studies to evaluate the effect on weight after someone discontinues using the drug.