# FLOW: semaglutide and kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease

Study · id `cardio:flow-trial` · Cardiovascular Atlas · release `f6f6f1b6f50379ed` (public)

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Also called: FLOW

Browse, organ or system: Kidneys; Metabolism  
Browse, condition area: Diabetes and metabolic disease; Kidney connections  

## In plain language

A large trial of people who have both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Half took semaglutide 1.0 mg once a week and half took placebo. The semaglutide group had a lower risk of kidney failure, a large fall in kidney function, or death from a kidney or heart cause. The trial was stopped early at a planned interim check.

## Technical summary

Randomized, placebo-controlled trial sponsored by Novo Nordisk (NCT03819153). 3533 participants were randomized (1767 semaglutide, 1766 placebo), median follow-up 3.4 years. Primary outcome (kidney failure, at least a 50% reduction in eGFR, or death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes): 331 against 410 first events, hazard ratio 0.76 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.88; P=0.0003). Early cessation was recommended at a prespecified interim analysis.

## Key facts

- Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial with parallel groups. The registry records phase 3 and quadruple masking.
- Phase: Phase 3
- Enrolled: 3533 participants (enrolled count; A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Started: 2019-06-17 (actual) (A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Primary completion: 2024-01-09 (actual) (A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Completion: 2024-01-09 (actual) (A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Results first posted: 2025-03-20 (actual) (A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Countries: United States; Argentina; Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Bulgaria; Canada; China; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; India; Israel; Italy; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Russia; Slovakia; South Africa; Spain; Thailand; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Türkiye (A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease, snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Care setting: Not reported
- Registry status: "COMPLETED" (U.S. National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov), snapshot `cardio:ctgov-nct03819153-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)
- Stopped early: The trial stopped early, date not reported. Early cessation of the trial was recommended at a prespecified interim analysis. The sentence read does not give the reason. The registry records the study as completed. (Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, snapshot `cardio:pubmed-38785209-2026-10-14`, retrieved 2026-10-14)

## Connected pages

- Tests semaglutide: Semaglutide (`cardio:semaglutide`)
- Lists type 2 diabetes as its condition: Type 2 diabetes (`cardio:type-2-diabetes`)
- Enrolled people who have both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (`cardio:chronic-kidney-disease`)
- Lead sponsor: Novo Nordisk (`cardio:novo-nordisk`)
- Names a persistent eGFR reduction in its primary outcome: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (`cardio:egfr`)

## Provenance

Content hash: 7b577cfb4dd45eef367f324a784d6ce71953b316efb9a288fc270398894cb917
Last substantive edit: 2026-10-15
Evidence last checked: Not recorded