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