By Colin Kellaher

Bayer AG on Tuesday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted priority review to finerenone for patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

The Leverkusen, Germany, chemical and pharmaceutical company said finerenone offers a potential new strategy to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes while reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.

The FDA grants priority review to medicines that have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment of a serious disease, and the designation shortens the review period to six months from the standard 10 months.

Bayer said there is currently a significant unmet medical need for the nearly 40% of people in the U.S. with type 2 diabetes who will develop chronic kidney disease, a progressive condition can lead to kidney damage and eventual failure.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-12-21 0905ET