Semaglutide, better known as Ozempic and Wegovy, helped alleviate pain from knee osteoarthritis and improve function in patients with severe obesity, a new study found.
The results of the 68-week trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and could pave the way for a future FDA approval of GLP-1 receptor agonists for the joint-degrading condition.
GLP-1 drugs have revolutionized obesity treatment, but research suggests they could also help treat conditions as varied as heart disease, addiction and sleep apnea. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, may have funded the latest trial to see if knee osteoarthritis might be added to that growing list of non-obesity indications — and help the drug get broader insurance coverage.