This is the first study to look at a new medicine to help kidneys in people with diabetes who have protein in their urine. It looks at the safety and the effect on the amount of protein in the urine of a blocker of ‘Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-B’. Information from animal studies suggests that blocking VEGF-B could help protect cells in the kidney from the damaging effects of diabetes. The drug is given either through the vein or under the skin by research nurses under the supervision of a research doctor. Some participants will get the medications while others will get a placebo (salt water); this will be decided randomly by chance.
Inclusion Criteria
- Age 25 or older
- Type 2 diabetes
- Protein in the urine (urine albumin to creatinine ratio ≥150 mg/g)
Exclusion Criteria
- Advanced kidney disease
- Uncontrolled diabetes or blood pressure
- Recent heart disease
Study Requirements
The study lasts about 34 weeks, including a 12 week period where people in the study get the medicine every 4 weeks, for a total of 4 doses. In the first few weeks, there is a visit weekly, but these are less frequent as the study goes on, spacing out to 8 weeks at the end.
There are no x-rays or scans but everyone will have an electrocardiogram (EKG) and an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
There are frequent urine samples and blood draws (about 1 or 2 tablespoons of blood per visit).
Some visits will be about an hour, but the 4 visits where you get medicine will each take a few hours.
