Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in England and Wales will soon benefit from expanded access to AstraZeneca’s Forxiga® (dapagliflozin), thanks to newly updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Known as Farxiga in the U.S., the drug is already approved by the U.S. FDA for treating CKD, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure, and is widely prescribed across American healthcare settings. The once-daily oral medication is now recommended for a broader group of CKD patients as an add-on therapy to standard care under the the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS).*

Expanded Eligibility Criteria

NICE’s revised guidance now allows Forxiga to be prescribed to adults with CKD if they are already receiving optimized standard care, including the maximum tolerated dose of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists, which are drugs used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions. 

The eligible population includes individuals with:

• An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 20 and 45
• Or those with an eGFR between 45 and 90 
• Who also present with significant albuminuria or have type 2 diabetes.

The eGFR is a measurement indicating what percentage of your kidney is still functioning normally. Albuminuria is the excess presence of the protein albumin in your urine, and usually functions as an early indicator that your kidneys are not filtering properly.

Clinical Evidence and National Impact

This decision follows extensive data review, including real-world evidence and clinical trials supporting the drug’s effectiveness in a broader CKD population. The updated guidance aligns with similar action taken by the Scottish Medicines Consortium, signaling a U.K.-wide shift in treatment access. CKD affects approximately 7.2 million people in the U.K. Forxiga belongs to the SGLT2 inhibitor class and works by helping the body eliminate excess glucose through urine, easing strain on the kidneys.

AstraZeneca UK president Tom Keith-Roach welcomed the update, emphasizing the importance of swift implementation. “We look forward to working in partnership with the health system to ensure eligible patients can benefit from this important therapy as soon as possible.” 

*Kimber, E. (2025, June 3). AstraZeneca’s Forxiga recommended by NICE for wider chronic kidney disease use. PMLive.

https://pmlive.com/pharma_news/astrazenecas-forxiga-recommended-by-nice-for-wider-chronic-kidney-disease-use/ 

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