- Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly team up with hip-hop artist
Rob Base for the launch of It
Takes 2™ – a new health initiative to educate
healthcare professionals and adults at risk for kidney disease on
the condition's unknown nature and the benefits of
complete testing
- Clinical guidelines recommend both blood and urine tests for
complete screening for kidney disease: estimated glomerular
filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)
tests
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. and INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 1, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- More than 35 million adults in the U.S. have
chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, as many as 90% of them are
unaware of their condition. This is despite clinical guidelines,
which show that using two tests can help detect it. That's why
Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) today
announced the launch of It Takes 2™ – a new health
initiative to elevate the importance of complete testing and early
diagnosis of kidney disease, particularly among those who have type
2 diabetes or high blood pressure and are at greater risk for it.
For It Takes 2, Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly partnered
with renowned musical artist Rob
Base, who – alongside collaborator DJ E-Z Rock – famously
declared that "it takes two to make a thing go right" in their 1988
mega-hit "It Takes Two." More than three decades later, the
sentiment still rings true, especially when it comes to managing
kidney health. To mark the initiative's launch, Rob Base has reimagined and rerecorded his
classic single specifically for this cause. By turning "It Takes
Two" into "It Takes 2 – The Remix," he is helping Boehringer
Ingelheim and Lilly reach key audiences to spotlight the
significance of complete testing.
In addition to the new remix, the initiative addresses the
critical need for complete CKD testing, with two tests, by
providing tailored resources and educational content that
underscore the importance of using both blood and urine tests, with
dual messaging that speaks directly to healthcare professionals as
well as adults at risk for CKD.
For healthcare professionals, It Takes
2 tests – eGFR and UACR – to get the full picture
about CKD.
Clinical guidelines urge healthcare professionals to routinely
screen for CKD using both the eGFR blood test and UACR urine
test to decrease the risk of disease progression and serious,
long-term complications. However, recent data reveals that less
than 20% of adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure –
two of the main risk factors for developing kidney disease –
received guideline concordant testing. It Takes 2
encourages healthcare professionals to add UACR testing to screen
for CKD, as eGFR testing only tells half the story.
"Testing – and specifically early testing – is a significant gap
in care that can have a detrimental impact on those at risk for
CKD," said Dr. Charles Vega, M.D.,
FAAFP, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion, UC Irvine School of
Medicine. "The stark reality is once symptoms develop, some degree
of irreversible kidney damage may have already occurred. I am proud
to support an initiative that is tackling this issue head-on by
energizing healthcare professionals and patients to work together
and follow guidelines from leading kidney and diabetes
organizations. The unique approach of It Takes 2 in reaching
two different audiences with two different, but equally valuable
messages is a critical step forward in improving the treatment of
adults in jeopardy of developing kidney disease."
For adults at risk for CKD, It Takes 2
– a patient and healthcare professional – to detect and manage
it.
While diabetes and high blood pressure are responsible for up to
two-thirds of kidney disease cases, people may not know that they
have it. Many adults do not experience symptoms until their kidney
disease has advanced. Kidney disease staging is based on kidney
health and is used to guide treatment decisions. It Takes 2
empowers people to partner with their healthcare professional and
test early and often to identify the stage as well as the risk of
progression.
"It took nearly a decade to discover that I had kidney disease,
and then I developed type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which
now puts me at risk for heart failure, so I know how overwhelming
it can be to understand and manage these interconnected
conditions," said Thelma Barber, an
advocate living with CKD. "I also know that by remembering that
It Takes 2 – me and my doctor – it is possible. I'm eager to
lend my voice to It Takes 2 to inspire others with
cardio-renal-metabolic conditions to talk to their doctor about
complete testing and utilize the informative resources that this
initiative provides. By tapping into a powerful combination of
nostalgia and memorability, It Takes 2 is helping bring
greater recognition to kidney disease."
It Takes 2 – The Remix, which debuts in
conjunction with hip-hop's 50th anniversary celebration
this year, reinforces the initiative's objectives with rewritten
lyrics that empower people to not only listen but take action. To
bring the song to life, Rob Base and
Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly produced two shareable music
videos for at-risk adults and healthcare professionals, which puts
a modern spin on the beloved original to reflect It Takes 2
messaging. View the new videos and access
educational resources on the It Takes 2 website at
TestYourKidneys.com, as well as a version of the site for
healthcare professionals at CKDtesting.com.
"'It Takes Two' is a defining piece of music history and
the Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly
Alliance is excited to partner with Rob Base to reinvent this song to amplify the
mission of our new health initiative," said Mohamed Eid, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.A., vice
president, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs,
Cardio-Renal-Metabolism & Respiratory Medicine, Boehringer
Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "It Takes 2 is driving
attention to the value of using two complementary tests to help
identify unmet needs of the at-risk population and reduce risks
associated with the growing burden of CKD."
"Our commitment to improve care for people with
cardio-renal-metabolic conditions extends beyond treatments, to
include bolstering awareness of the interconnected disorders," said
Leonard Glass, M.D., F.A.C.E.,
senior vice president, Diabetes Global Medical Affairs, Lilly.
"More than one in seven U.S. adults are affected by CKD and a
majority of them are undiagnosed. It Takes 2 recognizes this
public health crisis and aims to prompt action among those who are
at risk, as well as those who treat them, to help transform
outcomes."
About It Takes 2
It Takes 2 is a health initiative that aims to elevate
the importance of testing and early diagnosis of chronic kidney
disease (CKD) to help reduce the risk of serious complications down
the road. The initiative provides tailored resources and
educational content to empower adults at risk for kidney disease to
work with their healthcare professional and request one simple
urine test. It Takes 2 encourages healthcare professionals
to proactively use two tests – eGFR blood test and UACR urine
test – to get the full picture about CKD. Learn more
about It Takes 2 and access helpful resources from
the initiative's website at TestYourKidneys.com, as well as a
version of the site for healthcare professionals at
CKDtesting.com.
About Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease
(CKD) is a progressive and potentially life-threatening condition
that occurs when the kidneys are damaged by any cause that affects
their ability to filter the blood. Kidney disease staging is based
on kidney health and is used to guide treatment decisions. Most
adults in the U.S. living with kidney disease are unaware of their
condition – and many do not know that they are at risk until
symptoms emerge when their disease becomes advanced and
irreversible kidney damage has occurred.
CKD is part of a collective group of diseases known as
cardio-renal-metabolic (C-R-M) conditions that are closely
intertwined and share many of the same disease-related pathways and
risk factors. Dysfunction in one area of the C-R-M system may
accelerate the onset of dysfunction in others. As such, people with
CKD are potentially living with other C-R-M conditions, such as
heart failure and type 2 diabetes. The two main causes of kidney
disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible
for up to two-thirds of CKD cases.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company
In
January 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim
and Eli Lilly and Company announced an Alliance that centers on
compounds representing several of the largest diabetes treatment
classes. Depending on geographies, the companies either co-promote
or separately promote the respective molecules each contributing to
the Alliance. The Alliance leverages the strengths of two of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies to focus on patient needs.
By joining forces, the companies demonstrate their commitment, not
only to the care of people with diabetes, but also to investigating
the potential to address areas of unmet medical need.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that
transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading
research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates
value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need.
Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim
takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000
employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units Human
Pharma and Animal Health. Learn more at
boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/.
About Lilly
Lilly unites caring with discovery to
create medicines that make life better for people around the world.
We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150
years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people
across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry
and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new
discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health
challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and
curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the
fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of
the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the
most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each
step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making
life better for millions more people. That includes delivering
innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world
and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable.
To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us
on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
P-LLY
CONTACTS:
Sheryl van der Hilst
Boehringer Ingelheim
Email:
sheryl.van_der_hilst@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Phone: (914) 772-7973
Kristiane Bello
Eli Lilly and Company
Email: bello_kristiane@lilly.com
Phone: (317) 315-9052
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