Chronic kidney disease

Our aim is to help prevent, slow and treat disease progression, while addressing life-threatening complications

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease that can eventually lead to kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Worldwide, an estimated 200 million people are affected by CKD. As many as two out of three cases of CKD are caused by diabetes and high blood pressure.1,2

 

Addressing CKD and other CVRM diseases

Science is uncovering the commonalities between cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases (CVRM) which is at the core of our approach towards holistic care for CVRM patients. We aim to continue developing our potential solutions to these life-altering diseases that will not only bring kidney diseases to the medical forefront, but also offer patients new methods to improve their health journey beyond one specific disease.

The patient experience

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease patients struggle on a daily basis due to physical and emotional difficulties. The progressive nature of CKD alongside the knowledge that no cure exists can often be a challenging journey for both patients and loved ones.17

Today, progression of the disease might be slowed, but dialysis is possibly looming on the horizon. People living with chronic kidney disease gradually lose kidney function but may not know they even have the disease until later stages.18 As kidney function continues to decline, patients face an increased risk of developing other complications, including anaemia and hyperkalaemia.19-21

53% 

of stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients have anaemia in the US19

Up to 2 of 3

chronic kidney disease cases are caused by diabetes and high blood pressure2

35.8 million

healthy years of life were lost globally due to disability caused by CKD in 201723

40-50%

of patients with chronic kidney disease may at some stage be affected by hyperkalaemia14

Our commitment

Today, we are focused on exploring treatments and solutions across the full continuum of care from prevention and protection before a CKD diagnosis to slowing the progression and managing serious complications after diagnosis as some patients advance towards end-stage renal disease.

 

Collaborating with Antaros Medical for innovative CKD solutions

 

We’ve partnered with Antaros Medical, a company pioneering renal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for drug development, to investigate predictive biomarkers for use in CKD diagnosis, treatment response and drug development. Our collaboration includes research showing the potential of MRI as a non-invasive tool to assess the kidneys, and in addition, a recent study (HEROIC) which reviews imaging, biopsy and sampling techniques to identify novel markers of renal decline and explore the pathological development of diabetic kidney disease and its progression.24

 

Generating real world data on the CKD patient experience

 

DISCOVER CKD is an international observational cohort study on patients with CKD. The study’s mission is to collect real-world data to assess gaps in the patient journey – looking at early treatment experience, treatment patterns, treatment effectiveness and safety, as well as the quality of life of CKD patients. Analyses will be conducted both for prospective and retrospective CKD patient cohorts. Insights from DISCOVER CKD will help us approach CKD therapy development and provide us deeper understanding of what patients are going through in real-life setting.

 

Partnering with KDIGO to advance CKD care

 

We continuously seek out collaborations with partners that may help us improve patient outcomes and positively impact the continuum of CKD care. In 2019, we formalised a multi-year, cross-portfolio agreement with Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), the leading global organisation for practice-based kidney disease guidelines. Our partnership with KDIGO aims to directly address unmet needs related to the progression of chronic kidney disease, hyperkalaemia, anaemia and other co-morbidities in CKD. Through the partnership with KDIGO, we are working together to advance clinical dialogue on optimal patient care through the development of educational sessions, early detection tools, and publications.

 

Nephrologists discuss the unmet clinical need in CKD

 

To better understand the current gaps in managing CKD and its complications, we work with leading nephrologists around the world. From their perspectives on CKD and its complications to their views on the future of renal patient care, nephrologists have commented on various challenging aspects of this complex patient. Watch one of our videos with Dr. Bicheng Liu here or click this link to view the full video collection with our partner nephrologists on YouTube.

 

Driving healthcare system change with ACT on Chronic Kidney Disease

 

ACT – Accelerate Change Together – on Chronic Kidney Disease is a cross-functional programme which operates at the country level to achieve healthcare system change. Through the development of localised strategies, ACT on CKD seeks to promote holistic management of patients living with CKD, calling for healthcare systems and stakeholders to protect patients via timely diagnosis and access to treatment in order to slow the progression of the disease and effectively manage serious complications.

 

Our people

With chronic kidney disease affecting an estimated 200 million people worldwide, I am proud that AstraZeneca is taking the lead and is fully committed to building a portfolio that will establish us as a scientific leader in the cardiorenal space.

Nicolas Jose Guzman, M.D. Director, Nephrology Clinical Research

John Houghton

Global Medicine Leader

View John’s Profile

Anna Sundgren

Global Development Leader  

View Anna’s Profile

Nicolas Jose Guzman, M.D.

Director, Nephrology Clinical Research

 

View Nicolas’s Profile

Marie-José (MJ) Hoellinger, MD, MBA

Global Medicine Leader and Vice President, Medicine in Renal portfolio and Diabetes Injectables

View MJ’s Profile

Discover more about CVRM

patient with cardiovascular heart failure chronic kidney and diabetes

CVRM

We aim to save the lives of people who suffer from cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes, by advancing CVRM solutions and addressing shared risk factors between these distinct but interrelated disease areas.
cardiovascular muscles

Cardiovascular disease

Our ambition is to eliminate the remaining cardiovascular (CV) risk of patients with CV disease and stopping disease progression, therefore preventing CV events from occurring and protecting the lives of millions of patients.
pancreatic beta cells

Metabolism

Our focus is to transform the lives of the millions of patients living with metabolic diseases. We aspire to move healthcare professionals to treat beyond HbA1C, prevent early cardiovascular and renal complications and explore non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
heart failure cells

Heart failure

We strive to prevent heart disease onset, as well as treat and regenerate the heart to help protect millions of people living with heart failure.

References

  1. Ojo A. Addressing the global burden of chronic kidney disease through clinical and translational research. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2014;125:229-43; discussion 243-6.
  2. National Kidney Foundation. Kidney Disease: The Basics. Available from: URL: https://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/factsheets/KidneyDiseaseBasics. [Accessed 11 March 2019].
  3. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States: National Institutes of Health. Available from: URL: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/kidney-disease. [Accessed 28 August 2018].
  4. House AA, et al. Heart failure in chronic kidney disease: Conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int. 2019;95(6):1304–17.
  5. O'Mara NB. Anemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease. Diabetes Spectrum 2008; 21(1):12–9.
  6. Kovesdy CP et al. Serum potassium and adverse outcomes across the range of kidney function: A CKD Prognosis Consortium meta-analysis. Eur Heart J 2018; 39(17):1535–42.
  7. Hoppe LK, et al. Association of Abnormal Serum Potassium Levels with Arrhythmias and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2018;32(2):197–212.
  8. Fishbane S, Spinowitz B. Update on Anemia in ESRD and Earlier Stages of CKD: Core Curriculum 2018. Am J Kidney Dis. 2018;71(3):423–35.
  9. National Kidney Foundation. Managing Anemia: When You Have Kidney Disease or Kidney Failure. 2014. Available from URL: https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/11-10-6553_managinganemia.pdf. [Accessed 11 March 2019].
  10. National Kidney Foundation. Anemia and Chronic Kidney Disease. Available from URL: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/what_anemia_ckd.
  11. KDOQI. Clinical practice guidelines and clinical practice recommendations for anemia in chronic kidney disease. Am J Kidney Dis. 2006;47(5 Suppl 3):S1-146.
  12. National Kidney Foundation. What is Hyperkalemia? 2016. Available from URL: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/what-hyperkalemia. [Accessed 11 March 2019].
  13. American Heart Association. Hyperkalaemia (High Potassium). 2017. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/TreatmentOptionsForHeartFailure/Hyperkalemia-High-Potassium_UCM_488806_Article.jsp#.WpiEGKinHU [Accessed 28 February 2018].
  14. National Kidney Foundation. Clinical Update on Hyperkalaemia. 2014. Available from: https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/02-10-6785_HBE_Hyperkalemia_Bulletin.pdf [Accessed 20 February 2017].
  15. American Heart Association. Life-Threatening Electrolyte Abnormalities. Circulation. 2005;112:IV-121-IV-125.
  16. Simon LV, Farrell MW. Hyperkalemia. [Updated 2019 Feb 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470284/
  17. National Health Service. Chronic kidney disease. 2016. Available from: URL: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/. [Accessed 11 March 2019].
  18. National Health Service. Symptoms: Chronic kidney disease; 2016 [cited 20.08.19]. Available from: URL: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/symptoms/.
  19. Stauffer ME, Fan T. Prevalence of anemia in chronic kidney disease in the United States. PLoS ONE 2014; 9(1):e84943.
  20. Kovesdy CP et al. Serum potassium and adverse outcomes across the range of kidney function: A CKD Prognosis Consortium meta-analysis. Eur Heart J 2018; 39(17):1535–42.
  21. Bello AK et al. Complications of chronic kidney disease: Current state, knowledge gaps, and strategy for action. Kidney Int Suppl (2011) 2017; 7(2):122–9.
  22. AstraZeneca. 2018. Data on File. REF-47254
  23. Kyu HH, et al. Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 359 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1859–922.
  24. Mccafferty K., et al. The East and NoRth LOndon DIabetes Cohort Study (HEROIC): Rationale, Study Design and Outline Protocol. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Volume 34, Issue Supplement_1, June 2019, gfz106.FP514, https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfz106.FP514