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Ozempic Approved By FDA For Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease, marking a new milestone for Novo Nordisk’s highly popular drug, previously authorized for type 2 diabetes and weight loss.

Key Facts

  • The FDA approval allows Ozempic to be used to reduce the risk of kidney disease progression, kidney failure, and death from cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
  • The approval is based on a late-stage trial involving more than 3,500 participants, which showed that Ozempic lowered the risk of kidney disease progression and death from kidney or cardiovascular complications by 24% compared to a placebo.
  • Patients using Ozempic also experienced slower rates of kidney decline, according to Novo Nordisk.

In December 2024, the European Union’s health regulators also gave the go-ahead for Novo Nordisk to expand Ozempic’s label, indicating that the drug could reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease-related events in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Surprising Fact 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in every three adults with diabetes suffers from chronic kidney disease. Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, can impair kidney function due to its effects on the kidneys’ ability to filter waste, compounded by the high blood pressure that often accompanies the condition.

What Has Ozempic Been Approved For? 

Ozempic has already been approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes management, and it’s also widely used off-label for weight loss. Additionally, the FDA authorized Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy—which contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide—for weight loss and lowering the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Key Background 

Ozempic and Wegovy are part of the GLP-1 agonist class of medications, which mimic the function of a gut hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar and appetite. Research into the broader benefits of these drugs has been growing. For example, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, a competitor, was recently approved for treating obesity and sleep apnea, after it was shown to significantly reduce apnea events in a clinical trial.

Other studies suggest GLP-1 drugs might also have potential applications in treating alcohol use disorder and improving mood, cognitive function, and symptoms in patients with conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.

Strained Household Finances: Eurostat Data Reveals Persistent Payment Delays Across Europe and in Cyprus

Improved Financial Resilience Amid Ongoing Strains

Over the past decade, Cypriot households have significantly increased their ability to manage debts—not only bank loans but also rent and utility bills. However, recent Eurostat data indicates that Cyprus continues to lag behind the European average when it comes to covering financial obligations on time.

Household Coping Strategies and the Limits of Payment Flexibility

While many families are managing their fixed expenses with relative ease, one in three Cypriots struggles to cover unexpected costs. This delicate balancing act highlights how routine payments such as mortgage installments, rent, and utility bills are met, but precariously so, with little room for unplanned financial shocks.

Breaking Down Payment Delays Across the European Union

Eurostat reports that nearly 9.2% of the EU population experienced delays with their housing loans, rent, utility bills, or installment payments in 2024. The situation is more acute among vulnerable groups: 17.2% of individuals in single-parent households with dependent children and 16.6% in households with two adults managing three or more dependents faced payment delays. In every EU nation, single-parent households exhibited higher delay rates compared to the overall population.

Cyprus in the Crosshairs: High Rates of Financial Delays

Although Cyprus recorded a notable 19.1 percentage point improvement from 2015 to 2024 in delays related to mortgages, rent, and utility bills, the island nation still ranks among the top five countries with the highest delay rates. As of 2024, 12.5% of the Cypriot population had outstanding housing loans or rent and overdue utility bills. In contrast, Greece tops the list with 42.8%, followed by Bulgaria (18.7%), Romania (15.3%), Spain (14.2%), and other EU members. Notably, 19 out of 27 EU countries reported delay rates below 10%, with Czech Republic (3.4%) and Netherlands (3.9%) leading the pack.

Selective Improvements and Emerging Concerns

Between 2015 and 2024, the overall EU population saw a 2.6 percentage point decline in payment delays. Despite this, certain countries experienced increases: Luxembourg (+3.3 percentage points), Spain (+2.5 percentage points), and Germany (+2.0 percentage points) saw a rise in payment delays, reflecting underlying economic pressures that continue to challenge financial stability.

Economic Insecurity and the Unprepared for Emergencies

Another critical indicator explored by Eurostat is the prevalence of economic insecurity—the proportion of the population unable to handle unexpected financial expenses. In 2024, 30% of the EU population reported being unable to cover unforeseen costs, a modest improvement of 1.2 percentage points from 2023 and a significant 7.4 percentage point drop compared to a decade ago. In Cyprus, while 34.8% still report difficulty handling emergencies, this marks a drastic improvement from 2015, when the figure stood at 60.5%.

A Broader EU Perspective

Importantly, no EU country in 2024 had more than half of its population facing economic insecurity—a notable improvement from 2015, when over 50% of the population in nine countries reported such challenges. These figures underscore both progress and persistent vulnerabilities within European households, urging policymakers to consider targeted measures for enhancing financial resilience.

For further insights and detailed analysis, refer to the original reports on Philenews and Housing Loans.

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