Bayer’s first-in-class therapy recommended by PBAC

Pharma News: Bayer Australia welcomed the recommendation to include the first-in-class medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Kerendia (finerenone) delays the progressive decline of kidney function in adults with chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes (with albuminuria), in addition to standard of care.

Chronic kidney disease is a major public health issue, with the number of Australians with diabetes requiring treatment for kidney failure tripling in the last 20 years.

CEO of Bayer ANZ Group and Country Division Head for Pharmaceuticals, Ashraf Al-Ouf, said “Bayer continues to deliver medical innovations that improve the standard of care for Australians living with complex chronic conditions, including renal, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

“We are pleased that the PBAC has recognised the significant medical need for a medicine that addresses the inflammatory and fibrotic causes of kidney function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease with albuminuria, without interfering with glycaemic control.”

He added “With an ever-increasing number of Australians with type 2 diabetes requiring dialysis or transplantation for kidney failure, the importance of slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease has never been more apparent or important.

“We recognise that chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes can progress rapidly and are working with the Department and Federal Government to ensure Kerendia is made available on the PBS at the earliest opportunity.”

SGLT2 inhibitors such as AstraZeneca’s Farxiga are also approved to reduce kidney and/or heart-related problems in different disease settings.

Kerendia has been mainly tested in diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease, but Bayer is expanding its use into non-diabetic patients. Bayer’s phase 3 Finearts-HF trial evaluated Kerendia in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

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