Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson has been selected to receive the 2020 Corporate Innovator Award from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) as part of the annual Spring Clinical Meetings.
In September 2019, Janssen's INVOKANA® (canagliflozin) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD),worsening of kidney function, cardiovascular (CV) death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with a certain amount of protein in the urine.
"Diabetes is a key risk factor for DKD, and accounts for 44 percent of all end-stage kidney disease cases," said Kevin Longino, CEO of NKF and a kidney transplant patient. "However, less than 40 percent of those with diabetes are completely assessed for kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation applauds Janssen for bringing forth this treatment and urges patients living with type 2 diabetes to discuss the implications of this option with their healthcare provider."
Diabetes and DKD are common and complex disorders, which often co-exist, and each are associated with multiple comorbid conditions and higher risk for mortality. SGLT2s are proteins found in the kidneys that are important in the reabsorption of glucose by the kidneys. INVOKANA®, a SGLT2 inhibitor that has been used for glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes by inhibiting renal reabsorption of glucose, has now been shown to slow the progression of DKD and reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in this population.
This year's Spring Clinical Meetings will be a Live-Virtual Meeting due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This necessary change will help ensure the safety of our patients, staff, volunteers and conference participants while still enabling NKF to provide the high-quality content SCM is known for in a new live-virtual format.
The Corporate Innovator Award was established to recognize industry leaders that advance the field of nephrology by addressing an unmet medical need, or improving upon an existing practice, therapeutic or technology.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For the past 28 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF's Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary healthcare teams' skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team. This year's Spring Clinical Meetings will be a Live-Virtual Meeting due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kidney Disease Facts
In the United States 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease—and more than 90 percent aren't aware of it. 1 in 3 American adults are at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and family history. People of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. African Americans are 3 times more likely than Whites, and Hispanics are nearly 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanics to develop end stage renal disease (kidney failure).
