Can Ozempic and Wegovy relieve osteoarthritis pain? Key findings of the study |

The blockbuster weight-loss drugs that are taking the pharmaceutical market by storm may offer some additional benefits, says a new study.
Researchers have found that the blockbuster semaglutidesold as Ozempic for diabetes, etc. Vegova for weight loss, can also relieve osteoarthritis pain.

Osteoarthritis of the knee, also known as degenerative knee disease, is the most common type of osteoarthritis, leading to chronic pain and decreased quality of life. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing knee osteoarthritis and its progression.
Treatment with semaglutide administered once a week resulted in significantly greater reductions in weight and pain associated with knee osteoarthritis than placebo, according to a study published Wednesday (Oct. 30) in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Bob Carter, deputy director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, told The New York Times that the improvement observed was unprecedented for a drug. He noted that subjects in the study experienced a nearly 50 percent reduction in knee pain.
In a phase 3 clinical trial, people with osteoarthritis who took semaglutide along with diet and exercise lost more weight and had a significant reduction in knee pain compared to those who achieved weight loss through diet and exercise alone.
The 68-week study included 407 people (82% women and 18% men) with a mean age of 56 years, obesity, a BMI over 30, and moderate to severe pain due to knee osteoarthritis.
The author writes that the improvement is likely due in part to less stress on the knees due to weight loss. Semaglutide also has anti-inflammatory effects, which may help explain the pain relief.

Osteoarthritis of the knee occurs when the cartilage that protects the bones begins to break down. As a result, the bones rub against each other, causing damage, swelling and pain.
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