Chart review shows nephrologists prescribing more SGLT2 inhibitors
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Key takeaways:
- The chart review shows strong growth in the use of SGLT2 inhibitors.
- Management of patients with CKD is crucial for physicians selecting SGLT2 inhibitors.
A chart review completed by Spherix Global Insights shows that more nephrologists are using SGLT2 inhibitors to treat patients with chronic kidney disease, according to a press release.
“Analysis of 1,052 chronic kidney disease non-dialysis patient charts reveals continuous growth in SGLT2 inhibitor use and expanding opportunities for [mineralocorticoid receptor agonists] MRAs and [glucagon-like peptide-1] GLP-1s,” according to the release.
In the seventh Patient Chart Dynamix: CKD Non-Dialysis (U.S.) series by Spherix, nephrologists indicated they would use more jardiance (empagliflozin, Eli Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim) for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and non-diabetic CKD since the FDA expanded the label of Jardiance to include treatment of CKD.
“Access plays a big part in brand selection,” Meghan Weiss, senior insights director of the nephrology franchise at Spherix, told Healio in summarizing the results of the chart review. “We also saw differences in terms of the desired benefits that nephrologists hope to achieve, such as CKD management, [cardiovascular] benefits and diabetes control, when selecting a specific brand.”
Spherix said records have shown an increase in the proportion of patients with non-diabetic CKD and DKD receiving treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor since 2019.
“Consequently, nephrologists have established themselves as pivotal prescribers of these agents for the CKD patients under their management,” according to the release. “As the landscape grows more competitive, their role will be crucial in determining the success of brands like Farxiga [dapagliflozin, Astra Zeneca] and Jardiance.”
Spherix reviewed patient charts collected from 169 U.S.-based nephrologists; 75% of them were office-based vs. 25% hospital-based, Weiss said. Criteria for being part of the chart review included that nephrologists needed at least 50 patients with advanced CKD (stages 3, 4 or 5) under their management to participate.
When evaluating the anticipated advantages of SGLT2 inhibitor treatment, nephrologists prioritize improvements in CKD management and renal outcomes, alongside a focus on reducing proteinuria, according to the release. “The added cardiovascular benefits offered by SGLT2 inhibitors also weigh significantly in their brand selection, particularly when considering treatments for DKD vs. non-diabetic CKD patients,” according to the release. Along with SGLT2 inhibitors, Spherix noted the chart review showed that use of MRAs in patients with non-dialysis CKD has risen in comparison to previous years. “Examination of audited chart data highlights a significant change in brand distribution among MRA products in 2023, with the percentage of patients using Kerendia [finerenone, Bayer Pharmaceuticals] nearly doubling year-over-year,” according to the release. “Presently, a considerable portion of patients on Kerendia undergo concurrent treatment with an ACE inhibitor/ARB and an SGLT2 inhibitor.”
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