Empagliflozin for Kidney Disease

(CANARY Trial)

This trial tests a drug called empagliflozin to evaluate its safety and effectiveness for people with kidney disease who are on peritoneal dialysis but still retain some kidney function. The focus is on understanding the drug's impact on kidney function and overall health. Suitable participants have been on stable peritoneal dialysis and produce at least 250 cc of urine daily. As a Phase 3 trial, this study represents the final step before FDA approval, offering participants the opportunity to contribute to a potentially groundbreaking treatment.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications, but you must have a stable dose of RAAS blockade if you are on this type of medication. You also cannot have used an SGLT2 inhibitor in the 30 days before the trial.

Previous studies have shown that empagliflozin is safe for people with chronic kidney disease. Research indicates that empagliflozin can lower the risk of worsening kidney problems and reduce the chance of dying from heart-related issues. Serious side effects, such as urinary tract infections, were rare, occurring in only 1.6% of patients.

Most treatments for kidney disease focus on managing symptoms and slowing progression, usually involving blood pressure medications or dialysis. But empagliflozin works differently, targeting sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) in the kidneys. This mechanism not only helps control blood sugar levels but also reduces the risk of kidney damage by decreasing pressure in the kidney's filtering units. Researchers are excited about empagliflozin because it has shown promise in protecting kidney function, offering a potential dual benefit for patients with kidney disease, especially those with diabetes.

Research has shown that empagliflozin, which participants in this trial will receive, can help slow chronic kidney disease (CKD). One study found that it reduced the risk of disease progression or death from heart problems. Another study demonstrated that empagliflozin slowed CKD progression, even in individuals with only a small amount of protein in their urine. These findings suggest that empagliflozin might benefit people with kidney issues.¹⁶⁷⁸⁹