Effects of ertugliflozin on kidney composite outcomes, renal function and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an analysis from the randomised VERTIS CV trial

Aims/hypothesis In previous work, we reported the HR for the risk (95% CI) of the secondary kidney composite endpoint (time to first event of doubling of serum creatinine from baseline, renal dialysis/transplant or renal death) with ertugliflozin compared with placebo as 0.81 (0.63, 1.04). The effect of ertugliflozin on exploratory kidney-related outcomes was evaluated using data from the eValuation of ERTugliflozin effIcacy and Safety CardioVascular outcomes (VERTIS CV) trial (NCT01986881). Methods Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established atherosclerotic CVD were randomised to receive ertugliflozin 5 mg or 15 mg (observations from both doses were pooled), or matching placebo, added on to existing treatment. The kidney composite outcome in VERTIS CV (reported previously) was time to first event of doubling of serum creatinine from baseline, renal dialysis/transplant or renal death. The pre-specified exploratory composite outcome replaced doubling of serum creatinine with sustained 40% decrease from baseline in eGFR. In addition, the impact of ertugliflozin on urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and eGFR over time was assessed. Results A total of 8246 individuals were randomised and followed for a mean of 3.5 years. The exploratory kidney composite outcome of sustained 40% reduction from baseline in eGFR, chronic kidney dialysis/transplant or renal death occurred at a lower event rate (events per 1000 person-years) in the ertugliflozin group than with the placebo group (6.0 vs 9.0); the HR (95% CI) was 0.66 (0.50, 0.88). At 60 months, in the ertugliflozin group, placebo-corrected changes from baseline (95% CIs) in UACR and eGFR were −16.2% (−23.9, −7.6) and 2.6 ml min−1 [1.73 m]−2 (1.5, 3.6), respectively. Ertugliflozin was associated with a consistent decrease in UACR and attenuation of eGFR decline across subgroups, with a suggested larger effect observed in the macroalbuminuria and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease (KDIGO CKD) high/very high-risk subgroups. Conclusions/interpretation Among individuals with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic CVD, ertugliflozin reduced the risk for the pre-specified exploratory composite renal endpoint and was associated with preservation of eGFR and reduced UACR. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0198688

Ertugliflozin and Slope of Chronic eGFR: Prespecified Analyses from the Randomized VERTIS CV Trial

Background and objectives A reduction in the rate of eGFR decline, with preservation of $0.75 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year, has been proposed as a surrogate for kidney disease progression. We report results from prespecified analyses assessing effects of ertugliflozin versus placebo on eGFR slope from the eValuation of ERTugliflozin effIcacy and Safety CardioVascular outcomes (VERTIS CV) trial (NCT01986881). Design, setting, participants, & measurements Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were randomized to placebo, ertugliflozin 5 mg, and ertugliflozin 15 mg (1:1:1). The analyses compared the effect of ertugliflozin (pooled doses, n55499) versus placebo (n52747) on eGFR slope per week and per year by random coefficient models. Study periods (weeks 0–6 and weeks 6–52) and total and chronic slopes (week 0 or week 6 to weeks 104, 156, 208, and 260) were modeled separately and by baseline kidney status. Results In the overall population, for weeks 0–6, the least squares mean eGFR slopes (ml/min per 1.73 m2 per week [95% confidence interval (95% CI)]) were 20.07 (20.16 to 0.03) and 20.54 (20.61 to 20.48) for the placebo and ertugliflozin groups, respectively; the difference was 20.47 (20.59 to 20.36). During weeks 6–52, least squares mean eGFR slopes (ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year [95% CI]) were 20.12 (20.70 to 0.46) and 1.62 (1.21 to 2.02) for the placebo and ertugliflozin groups, respectively; the difference was 1.74 (1.03 to 2.45). For weeks 6–156, least squares mean eGFR slopes (ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year [95% CI]) were 21.51 (21.70 to 21.32) and 20.32 (20.45 to 20.19) for the placebo and ertugliflozin groups, respectively; the difference was 1.19 (0.95 to 1.42). During weeks 0–156, the placebo-adjusted difference in least squares mean slope was 1.06 (0.85 to 1.27). These findings were consistent by baseline kidney status. Conclusions Ertugliflozin has a favorable placebo-adjusted eGFR slope .0.75 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year, documenting the kidney function preservation underlying the clinical benefits of ertugliflozin on kidney disease progression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Clinical Trial registry name and registration number: US National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01986881. Date of trial registration: November 13, 2013

Cardiovascular Outcomes with Ertugliflozin in Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND The cardiovascular effects of ertugliflozin, an inhibitor of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2, have not been established. METHODS In a multicenter, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to receive 5 mg or 15 mg of ertugliflozin or placebo once daily. With the data from the two ertugliflozin dose groups pooled for analysis, the primary objective was to show the noninferiority of ertugliflozin to placebo with respect to the primary outcome, major adverse cardiovascular events (a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke). The noninferiority margin was 1.3 (upper boundary of a 95.6% confidence interval for the hazard ratio [ertugliflozin vs. placebo] for major adverse cardiovascular events). The first key secondary outcome was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes or hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS A total of 8246 patients underwent randomization and were followed for a mean of 3.5 years. Among 8238 patients who received at least one dose of ertugliflozin or placebo, a major adverse cardiovascular event occurred in 653 of 5493 patients (11.9%) in the ertugliflozin group and in 327 of 2745 patients (11.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95.6% confidence interval [CI], 0.85 to 1.11; P<0.001 for noninferiority). Death from cardiovascular causes or hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 444 of 5499 patients (8.1%) in the ertugliflozin group and in 250 of 2747 patients (9.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95.8% CI, 0.75 to 1.03; P=0.11 for superiority). The hazard ratio for death from cardiovascular causes was 0.92 (95.8% CI, 0.77 to 1.11), and the hazard ratio for death from renal causes, renal replacement therapy, or doubling of the serum creatinine level was 0.81 (95.8% CI, 0.63 to 1.04). Amputations were performed in 54 patients (2.0%) who received the 5-mg dose of ertugliflozin and in 57 patients (2.1%) who received the 15-mg dose, as compared with 45 patients (1.6%) who received placebo. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, ertugliflozin was noninferior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. (Funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme and Pfizer; VERTIS CV ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01986881.)

Design and baseline characteristics of the eValuation of ERTugliflozin effIcacy and Safety CardioVascular outcomes trial (VERTIS-CV)

Background Ertugliflozin is an inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2), approved in the United States and European Union to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The VERTIS cardiovascular (CV) outcomes trial (NCT01986881) has a primary objective to demonstrate non-inferiority of ertugliflozin versus placebo on major adverse CV events: time to the first event of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Secondary objectives are to demonstrate superiority of ertugliflozin versus placebo on time to: 1) the composite outcome of CV death or hospitalization for heart failure (HF); 2) CV death; and 3) the composite outcome of renal death, dialysis/transplant, or doubling of serum creatinine from baseline. Methods Patients ≥40 years old with T2DM (HbA1c 7.0–10.5%) and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) of the coronary, cerebral, and/or peripheral arterial systems, were randomized 1:1:1 to once daily double-blind placebo, ertugliflozin 5 mg or 15 mg added to existing therapy. Results 8246 patients were randomized and 8238 received at least 1 dose of investigational product. Mean age was 64.4 years, 11.0% were ≥75 years old, and mean diabetes duration was 12.9 years with screening HbA1c of 8.3%. At entry, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease were present in 76.3%, 23.1%, and 18.8% of patients, respectively. HF was present in 23.1%, and Stage 3 kidney disease in 21.6% of patients. Conclusion The results from the VERTIS-CV trial will define the CV and renal safety and efficacy of ertugliflozin in patients with T2DM and ASCVD. (Am Heart J 2018;206:11-23.

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049