Efficacy and Safety of Finerenone in Chronic Kidney Disease Associated with Type 2 Diabetes: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Purpose: The main objective was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of finerenone in patients with CKD associated with T2D, especially with regard to renal and cardiovascular protection.

Methods: Eight databases were searched. Mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of the outcomes and risk ratio (RR) were calculated as the effect measure.

Results: Four trials (n = 13,510) were included. Compared to placebo groups, the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) mean ratio, along with the proportion of patients with a decreased eGFR (≥ 40%) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), was significantly lower (MD: -0.30 (95% CI: -0.32, -0.28), p < 0.00001; RR: 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.93), p = 0.0002; RR: 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.99), p = 0.04, respectively). Furthermore, the proportion of patients with cardiovascular events (CVs) was significantly lower (RR: 0.88 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.96), p = 0.003). In terms of safety, while the increase in serum potassium concentration and the incidence of hyperkalemia were significantly higher in the finerenone groups (MD: 0.16 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.26), p = 0.00006; RR: 2.03 (95% CI: 1.83, 2.26), p < 0.00001, respectively), the all-cause mortality and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) were similar to placebo (RR: 0.90 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.00), p = 0.05; RR: 1.00 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.01), p = 0.65, respectively).

Conclusion: The observed renal and cardiovascular benefits of finerenone were significant and did not cause unacceptable side-effects. Finerenone may represent a promising therapeutic tool for CKD associated with T2D.