A Phase III Study to Evaluate the Effect of Balcinrenone/Dapagliflozin in Patients With CKD Stage 3b and 4 (BalanceD-CKD)

This is a Phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, active-controlled, event-driven study in participants with CKD Stage 3b and 4.

The purpose of this study is to determine if balcinrenone/dapagliflozin, compared with dapagliflozin, administered as a capsule once daily on a background of standard of care (SoC) therapy, reduces the risk of CV death, death from kidney failure, kidney failure, sustained ≥ 50% decline from baseline in eGFR, and HF events in adults with CKD Stage 3b and 4. The study will also assess safety and tolerability of balcinrenone/dapagliflozin.

Eligible patients will randomly be assigned with a 1:1 ratio to receive once daily administration of one capsule and one tablet of one of the following treatments:

• Balcinrenone/dapagliflozin 15 mg/10 mg capsule and matching placebo for dapagliflozin 10 mg tablet
• Dapagliflozin 10 mg tablet and matching placebo for balcinrenone/dapagliflozin capsule The study will be conducted at approximately 550 sites in approximately 30 countries, globally.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Diagnosis of CKD and at least one of the following:

• eGFR ≥ 15 to < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 AND: UACR ≥ 30 mg/g (central laboratory) or UACR ≥ 100 mg/g (local laboratory ) or UPCR ≥ 200 mg/g (local laboratory).
• eGFR ≥ 15 to < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and UACR < 30 mg/g (local or central laboratory UACR value).
• Serum/plasma K+ ≤ 5.0 mmol/L
• Maximum tolerated dose of an ACEi or an ARB, unless contraindicated or not tolerated. The dose should be stable for at least 4 weeks before screening.

Exclusion criteria

• Recent (within 90 days prior to screening) or ongoing dialysis, or likely to require dialysis within 3 months following randomisation
• UACR ≥ 5000 mg/g or UPCR ≥ 7000 mg/g at screening.
• SBP > 180 mmHg or DBP > 110 mmHg at screening.
• SBP < 90 mmHg at screening.
• HbA1c > 9% at screening
• T1DM, except:

• For US only: patients with T1DM treated with SGLT2i for at least 4 months prior to screening, without DKA during that period, and who have experience with ketone monitoring are eligible.
• For Japan only: patients with T1DM treated with dapagliflozin 10 mg for at least 4 months prior to Screening, without DKA during the period of dapagliflozin treatment are eligible for inclusion.
• Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
• Major cardiac or valvular surgery, acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction or unstable angina), stroke, transient ischaemic attack within 12 weeks prior to screening.
• Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C).
• Adrenal insufficiency.
• Clinically significant acute kidney injury within 12 weeks prior to the screening.
• New York Heart Association functional HF class IV at screening, or hospitalisation for heart failure within 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Any clinical condition requiring systemic immunosuppression therapy other than maintenance therapy (stable for at least 3 months) prior to screening.
• Solid organ or bone marrow transplant or a plan for transplant within 6 months following randomisation.
• Any use of the following medications and supplements:

• MRAs
• Aldosterone analogues
• Aldosterone synthase inhibitors
• Any use of potassium binders within 2 weeks prior to screening. Use is allowed after randomisation.
• Strong or moderate inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4, prohibited at least one week prior to randomisation