Taking a weekly semaglutide shot might help protect the kidneys in people with extra weight and heart disease—even if they don’t have diabetes.

In adults with type 2 diabetes and advanced kidney disease, a weekly injection of semaglutide at 1.0 mg lowers the combined risk of kidney failure, severe loss of kidney function, or death from heart or kidney causes by 24% compared to a placebo over about 3.4 years.

In adults with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, a weekly injection of semaglutide at 1.0 mg lowers the combined risk of severe kidney function decline, kidney failure, or death from kidney or heart causes by 24% compared to a placebo over about 3.4 years, regardless of whether they were already taking mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists.

For adults with type 2 diabetes and kidney problems, taking a weekly semaglutide shot (1.0 mg) can lower their chances of serious kidney or heart issues by about a quarter over 3.4 years — about 1 in every 20 people who take it will avoid a major problem.

For adults who are overweight, have heart disease, and early kidney problems but not diabetes, taking a weekly semaglutide shot might help their kidneys work better over two years compared to a placebo.

In adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, taking a weekly dose of semaglutide at 1.0 mg is associated with a 20% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to taking a placebo over about 3.4 years.