A large new study reveals that semaglutide medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, can significantly relieve knee pain in people with moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study has opened a promising avenue for patients suffering from this degenerative disease.
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is a painful condition caused primarily by the wear and tear of the cartilage that protects the ends of bones. In the words of Dr. Vinay K. Aggarwal, an orthopedic expert at New York University (NYU), osteoarthritis primarily affects the hip and knee joints, causing debilitating pain in these areas.
The study involved 407 obese people suffering from osteoarthritis of the knees. At the beginning of the trial, patients showed a high level of pain on a 100-point scale, with an average of 70.9, highlighting the severity of their situation.
To qualify, participants had to meet certain criteria, such as morning stiffness and an audible crack or pop in their knees. Under the direction of Dr. Henning Bliddal, a rheumatologist at Copenhagen University Hospital, the effects of Wegovy were evaluated compared to a placebo.
The results exceeded expectations. According to Dr. Bob Carter, deputy director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the 50% reduction in knee pain in the group taking Wegovy is an unprecedented achievement in drug treatments of this type.
This means that the level of relief was higher than that typically provided by other conventional treatments, such as over-the-counter pain relievers or steroid injections, whose effects are not as long-lasting and can have long-term negative side effects.
The study participants, mostly women with an average age of 56 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 40.3, were assigned to a calorie restriction and exercise counseling program, in addition to randomly receiving , Wegovy or a placebo.
The group receiving Wegovy experienced a pain reduction of 41.7 points at the end of 68 weeks, while the placebo group had a reduction of only 27.5 points. Additionally, the Wegovy group lost, on average, 13.7% of their initial weight, in contrast to the 3.2% weight loss in the placebo group.
The relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis has been widely documented, as excess weight puts excessive pressure on the joints. Each additional kilo of weight can increase the force on the knees four to six times, accelerating cartilage wear and worsening pain.
In this sense, Wegovy is emerging as a dual solution by helping to reduce both weight and inflammation, two crucial factors in the management of this disease. By acting on the hormone GLP-1, semaglutide stimulates specific T cells that have anti-inflammatory effects, helping to reduce pain in a sustained manner and allowing patients to improve their mobility and quality of life.
Beyond osteoarthritis, semaglutide has shown therapeutic potential beyond weight loss. Recent studies suggest it may help prevent kidney disease, improve exercise capacity in people with diabetes and heart failure, and reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. In March of this year, Wegovy was approved to reduce these risks in obese or overweight patients, consolidating its use in the field of cardiovascular health.
Additionally, preliminary neuroscience research suggests that semaglutide’s effects could extend to neuroprotection, opening the possibility that drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act against brain neurodegeneration and inflammation, which in the future could be used to slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Although these medications represent an advance, they do not replace surgery in serious cases. Knee surgery remains an effective option for most patients with severe osteoarthritis, but its high cost and recovery time make it an inaccessible resource for some. Therefore, experts emphasize the need for less invasive alternatives that can manage pain and improve quality of life without requiring surgical procedures.
As new research and treatments are developed, the use of semaglutide medications could expand further, not only for pain relief in osteoarthritis, but as a preventive and therapeutic resource for other health conditions. Together, these findings expand the relevance of semaglutide in the comprehensive management of chronic diseases, providing patients with a viable and less invasive option to improve their overall well-being.
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