Nedosiran in primary hyperoxaluria subtype 3: results from a phase I, single-dose study (PHYOX4)

Nedosiran is an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated RNA interference agent targeting hepatic lactate dehydrogenase (encoded by the LDHA gene), the putative enzyme mediating the final step of oxalate production in all three genetic subtypes of primary hyperoxaluria (PH). This phase I study assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of subcutaneous nedosiran in patients with PH subtype 3 (PH3) and an estimated glomerular filtration rate  ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Single-dose nedosiran 3 mg/kg or placebo was administered in a randomized (2:1), double-blinded manner. Safety/tolerability, 24-h urinary oxalate (Uox) concentrations, and plasma nedosiran concentrations were assessed. The main PD endpoint was the proportion of participants achieving a > 30% decrease from baseline in 24-h Uox at two consecutive visits. Six participants enrolled in and completed the study (nedosiran, n = 4; placebo, n = 2). Nedosiran was well-tolerated and lacked safety concerns. Although the PD response was not met, 24-h Uox excretion declined 24.5% in the nedosiran group and increased 10.5% in the placebo group at Day 85. Three of four nedosiran recipients had a > 30% reduction in 24-h Uox excretion during at least one visit, and one attained near-normal (i.e., ≥ 0.46 to < 0.60 mmol/24 h; ≥ 1.0 to < 1.3 × upper limit of the normal reference range) 24-h Uox excretion from Day 29 to Day 85. Nedosiran displayed predictable plasma PK. The acceptable safety and trend toward Uox-lowering after single-dose nedosiran treatment enables further clinical development of nedosiran in patients with PH3 who currently have no viable therapeutic options. A plain language summary is available in the supplementary information.

MO462: Change in KDIGO Kidney Risk Category With Semaglutide Treatment—A Post Hoc Analysis of the Sustain 6 Trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, have been associated with reductions in albuminuria, and may preserve estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, it has not been explored whether treatment with semaglutide affects a person's chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk category. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) risk category classification is a validated approach for defining the likelihood of CKD and cardiovascular (CV) disease progression, based on eGFR and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). The aim of this analysis was to determine whether treatment with once-weekly (OW) semaglutide resulted in improvements in KDIGO risk category compared with placebo.

METHOD

The proportion of subjects with T2D moving to a lower KDIGO risk category, remaining in the same category or moving to a higher risk category between baseline and 2 years on treatment with OW subcutaneous semaglutide versus placebo was assessed post hoc using SUSTAIN 6 (NCT01720446) CV outcomes trial data. The endpoints were assessed for the overall population and by baseline KDIGO risk category (low, moderate, high and very high). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate the contributions of UACR and eGFR to change in risk category.

RESULTS

Data from 2804 of the 3297 subjects randomized in SUSTAIN 6 were available for this post hoc analysis. At 2 years, in the overall population, subjects receiving OW semaglutide were more likely to move to a lower risk category (n = 183; 13.0%) than subjects receiving placebo (n = 114; 8.2%); odds ratio (OR; semaglutide versus placebo) 1.69 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32; 2.16, P &lt; 0.0001) (Figure). Conversely, subjects receiving OW semaglutide were less likely to move to a higher risk category (n = 254; 18.1%) than those receiving placebo (n = 330; 23.6%); OR 0.71 (95% CI 0.59;0.86, P = 0.0003) (Figure). When the data were stratified by baseline KDIGO risk categories, across all categories, greater proportions of subjects receiving semaglutide than placebo moved to a lower risk category and lower proportions of subjects receiving semaglutide than placebo moved to a higher risk category (Figure). The effects of semaglutide on UACR and eGFR both contributed to the favourable change-in-risk-category profile compared with placebo (Table).

CONCLUSION

Subjects receiving semaglutide versus placebo were more likely to move to a lower KDIGO risk category and less likely to move to a higher risk category, both in the overall population and across KDIGO risk category subgroups. The potential kidney protective effects of semaglutide and the mechanisms underlying these are being investigated in subjects with T2D and CKD in the FLOW and REMODEL trials.

MO399: Remodel: A Mechanistic Trial Evaluating the Effects of Semaglutide on the Kidneys In People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) and, despite current treatment, T2D is the most common cause of progression to kidney failure. This situation underscores the need for additional pharmacotherapeutic options. Analyses of cardiovascular outcomes trials suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, lower albuminuria and attenuate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in people with T2D. Previous analyses suggest that GLP-1RAs reduce hypoxia and inflammation and, thereby, have a mode of action on the kidneys that is distinct from other treatments, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGCT-2) inhibitors and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers. Furthermore, the primary benefit of semaglutide appears to be in people with an eGFR &lt; 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, a group in which there is a significant residual risk of progression and a consequent unmet need for effective treatment. To gain further insights on the kidney-protective mechanism of action of semaglutide, the REMODEL trial is integrating investigative functional kidney magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and kidney biopsies; recent developments in these techniques permit elucidation of the mechanisms underlying kidney protection with current therapies. Mechanistic findings of the REMODEL trial will complement those of the ongoing FLOW clinical trial, which is designed to evaluate clinical outcomes in people with T2D and CKD treated with once-weekly (OW) subcutaneous semaglutide.

METHOD

REMODEL (NCT04865770) is a 52-week, multicentre, international clinical trial (Figure 1). Primary endpoints are MRI-based and include change from baseline to week 52 in kidney oxygenation (measured with BOLD MRI R2*), global kidney perfusion (phase-contrast MRI) and kidney inflammation (T1 Mapping MRI). Secondary endpoints evaluated from kidney biopsies in a nested cohort (n ∼ 45) include change from baseline to week 52 in intrarenal mRNA expression, assessed by single-nucleus transcriptomics and glomerular basement membrane width, assessed by morphometry. Other secondary endpoints include the apparent diffusion coefficient (estimating renal fibrosis; evaluated with diffusion-weighted MRI), natriuresis, albumin excretion rate and creatinine clearance. MRI outcomes will also be evaluated at week 4 to identify potential early effects of semaglutide in the kidney. Examples of MRI and kidney biopsy single-cell gene expression profile data from participants with CKD are shown in Figure 2 (data not from REMODEL). Safety will be assessed throughout the trial.

RESULTS

REMODEL was initiated in April 2021 and is being conducted in Canada, France, Italy, Poland, South Africa, Spain and USA.

CONCLUSION

REMODEL will investigate the effect of the GLP-1RA semaglutide on inflammatory and hypoxia-related pathways in the kidney. The combination of MRI and tissue-level interrogation with biopsies will complement standard laboratory findings, enabling the identification of cells and pathways involved in kidney disease and protection. The trial will provide valuable mechanistic insights on the use of OW semaglutide in people with T2D and CKD and may stimulate the development of a precision medicine approach to the management of such individuals. In addition, REMODEL will complement the findings of the FLOW trial.