AstraZeneca backs kidney health movement, uniting for a paradigm shift

Pharma News: A global alliance has set its sights on amplifying the voices of patients and advocating for policies that improve access to early screening and treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD). A consortium of seventeen patient advocacy organisations worldwide, including Kidney Health Australia, converged to unveil the Global Patient Alliance for Kidney Health.

AstraZeneca has stepped forward with a financial sponsorship for the Global Alliance For Patient Access, serving as the secretariat for the Global Patient Alliance for Kidney Health. The Alliance recognises the profound and wide-reaching impact of CKD, emphasising the urgent need for early interventions to mitigate its repercussions.

The toll of chronic kidney disease extends far beyond individual health, imposing significant financial burdens on healthcare systems and exerting a detrimental toll on the environment. Globally, nations channel a substantial 2-3% of their annual healthcare budgets into treating kidney failure, a heavy expenditure exacerbated by the vast amounts of water – approximately 265 billion litres – required for dialysis therapy and kidney transplants each year.

Chris Forbes, CEO of Kidney Health Australia, underscored the staggering economic costs of chronic kidney disease in Australia. He stated “Chronic kidney disease is costing the Australian economy $9.9 billion per year in productivity-related losses and healthcare expenditure dedicated to providing dialysis and kidney transplants. When these organs stop working, it wreaks havoc.”

While lifestyle adjustments and medications like AstraZeneca’s Forxiga (dapagliflozin) and Bayer’s Kerendia (finerenone) slow CKD progression, the crucial missing link remains a heightened focus on early screening and treatment. Without such a focus, a growing number of individuals are at risk of falling prey to this silent disease.

Mr Forbes further emphasised, “As we formed this global alliance of patient organisations it was very clear how similar the challenges are across countries. Largely undiagnosed, an economic burden with majority of investment in kidney failure and the need (and opportunity) for early detection and prevention of progression. We are committed to elevating kidney disease onto the global health agenda and the team at Kidney Health Australia are determined to improve the kidney health of all Australians.”

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