Characteristics of patients with chronic kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes initiating finerenone in the USA: a multi-database, cross-sectional study

FOUNTAIN: a modular research platform for integrated real-world evidence generation

BACKGROUND

Real-world evidence (RWE) plays a key role in regulatory and healthcare decision-making, but the potentially fragmentated nature of generated evidence may limit its utility for clinical decision-making. Heterogeneity and a lack of reproducibility in RWE resulting from inconsistent application of methodologies across data sources should be minimized through harmonization.

METHODS

This paper's aim is to describe and reflect upon a multidisciplinary research platform (FOUNTAIN; FinerenOne mUlti-database NeTwork for evidence generAtIoN) with coordinated studies using diverse RWE generation approaches and explore the platform's strengths and limitations. With guidance from an executive advisory committee of multidisciplinary experts and patient representatives, the goal of the FOUNTAIN platform is to harmonize RWE generation across a portfolio of research projects, including research partner collaborations and a common data model (CDM)-based program. FOUNTAIN's overarching objectives as a research platform are to establish long-term collaborations among pharmacoepidemiology research partners and experts and to integrate diverse approaches for RWE generation, including global protocol execution by research partners in local data sources and common protocol execution in multiple data sources through federated data networks, while ensuring harmonization of medical definitions, methodology, and reproducible artifacts across all studies. Specifically, the aim of the multiple studies run within the frame of FOUNTAIN is to provide insight into the real-world utilization, effectiveness, and safety of finerenone across its life-cycle.

RESULTS

Currently, the FOUNTAIN platform includes 9 research partner collaborations and 8 CDM-mapped data sources from 7 countries (United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan, The Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark). These databases and research partners were selected after a feasibility fit-for-purpose evaluation. Six multicountry, multidatabase, cohort studies are ongoing to describe patient populations, current standard of care, comorbidity profiles, healthcare resource use, and treatment effectiveness and safety in different patient populations with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. Strengths and potential limitations of FOUNTAIN are described in the context of valid RWE generation.

CONCLUSION

The establishment of the FOUNTAIN platform has allowed harmonized execution of multiple studies, promoting consistency both within individual studies that employ multiple data sources and across all studies run within the platform's framework. FOUNTAIN presents a proposal to efficiently improve the consistency and generalizability of RWE on finerenone.

First interim results from FINE-REAL: a prospective, non-interventional, phase 4 study providing insights into the use and safety of finerenone in a routine clinical setting

BACKGROUND

Finerenone, a selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, improves kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The FINE-REAL study (NCT05348733) aims to evaluate the characteristics and treatment patterns of participants treated with finerenone in clinical practice.

METHODS

FINE-REAL is a prospective, single-arm, non-interventional study of patients initiated on finerenone as part of their routine care in accordance with country-approved labels. The study, initiated in June 2022, is expected to be completed by January 2028. The cutoff for this pre-specified interim analysis was June 13, 2023.

RESULTS

Participants were recruited across nephrology, endocrinology, cardiology, and primary care settings. Of 556 participants enrolled in the study by the cut-off date, 504 were included in this analysis (median follow-up duration of 7 months [finerenone treatment initiation to last recorded observation]). At baseline, 76.1% of participants were in the high or very high (KDIGO) CKD risk categories. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors were prescribed to 71.8% and 46.6% of participants, respectively. Based on prescribing information, 87.9% and 12.1% of participants initiated finerenone at doses of 10 and 20 mg, respectively. Finerenone treatment was uninterrupted in 92.3% of participants after 7 months' median follow-up. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 110 (21.8%) participants. Hyperkalemia occurred in 25 (5.0%) participants, with no cases leading to death, dialysis, or hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

At this interim analysis, finerenone was initiated in patients with CKD and T2D across various clinical practices participating in the study. Treatment discontinuation and hyperkalemia occurred infrequently.

Early Clinical Experience of Finerenone in People with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes in Japan-A Multi-Cohort Study from the FOUNTAIN (FinerenOne mUltidatabase NeTwork for Evidence generAtIoN) Platform

Background: In the phase 3 clinical trials FIGARO-DKD and FIDELIO-DKD, finerenone reduced the risk of cardiovascular and kidney events among people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Evidence regarding finerenone use in real-world settings is limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort study (NCT06278207) using two Japanese nationwide hospital-based databases provided by Medical Data Vision (MDV) and Real World Data Co., Ltd. (RWD Co., Kyoto Japan), converted to the OMOP common data model, was conducted. Persons with CKD and T2D initiating finerenone from 1 July 2021, to 30 August 2023, were included. Baseline characteristics were described. The occurrence of hyperkalemia after finerenone initiation was assessed. Results: 1029 new users of finerenone were included (967 from MDV and 62 from RWD Co.). Mean age was 69.5 and 72.4 years with 27.3% and 27.4% being female in the MDV and RWD Co. databases, respectively. Hypertension (92 and 95%), hyperlipidemia (59 and 71%), and congestive heart failure (60 and 66%) were commonly observed comorbidities. At baseline, 80% of persons were prescribed angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists were prescribed in 72% and 30% of the study population, respectively. The incidence proportions of hyperkalemia were 2.16 and 2.70 per 100 persons in the MDV and RWD Co. databases, respectively. There were no hospitalizations associated with hyperkalemia observed in either of the two datasets. Conclusions: For the first time, we report the largest current evidence on the clinical use of finerenone in real-world settings early after the drug authorization in Japan. This early evidence from clinical practice suggests that finerenone is used across comorbidities and comedications.

Overview of the safety, efficiency, and potential mechanisms of finerenone for diabetic kidney diseases

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common disorder with numerous severe clinical implications. Due to a high level of fibrosis and inflammation that contributes to renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD), existing treatments have not effectively mitigated residual risk for patients with DKD. Excess activation of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) plays a significant role in the progression of renal and CVD, mostly by stimulating fibrosis and inflammation. However, the application of traditional steroidal MR antagonists (MRAs) to DKD has been limited by adverse events. Finerenone (FIN), a third-generation non-steroidal selective MRA, has revealed anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects in pre-clinical studies. Current clinical trials, such as FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD and their combined analysis FIDELITY, have elucidated that FIN reduces the kidney and CV composite outcomes and risk of hyperkalemia compared to traditional steroidal MRAs in patients with DKD. As a result, FIN should be regarded as one of the mainstays of treatment for patients with DKD. In this review, the safety, efficiency, and potential mechanisms of FIN treatment on the renal system in patients with DKD is reviewed.