Finerenone: A Novel Third-Generation Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist

Finerenone is a novel third-generation, selective nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July of 2021 for its use in adults with chronic kidney disease and Type II diabetes mellitus. Randomized controlled trials The Finerenone in Reducing Kidney Failure and Disease Progression in Diabetic Kidney Disease and Finerenone in Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease showed decreased adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes, respectively, in this population. The incidence of hyperkalemia, while higher in the study versus placebo group, was lower than older generations of MRAs (spironolactone and eplerenone) and proved to be an infrequent cause for drug discontinuation. The incidences of other adverse effects such as gynecomastia and acute kidney injury were similar in both the study and the placebo groups. This is the first third-generation MRA authorized to use to reduce the burden of cardiorenal disease.