Semaglutide for osteoarthritis

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Areas affected by osteoarthritis

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on October 31, 2024, highlights that once-weekly semaglutide significantly reduces body weight and alleviates pain related to knee osteoarthritis in individuals with obesity, compared to a placebo.

Study Overview[edit]

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Ozempic, a form of semaglutide

The study, led by Henning Bliddal, M.D., from Copenhagen University Hospital at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg in Denmark, was conducted over 68 weeks at 61 sites across 11 countries. A total of 407 participants with obesity and clinically confirmed moderate knee osteoarthritis characterized by moderate to severe pain were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide or a placebo, in addition to counseling on physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet.

Key Findings[edit]

The study results demonstrated the following:

Body Weight Reduction: By week 68, participants receiving semaglutide experienced a mean body weight reduction of −13.7%, compared to −3.2% in the placebo group.
Pain Reduction: The mean change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score was −41.7 points for the semaglutide group, compared to −27.5 points for the placebo group.
Improvement in Physical Function: The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) indicated greater improvement in physical function among the semaglutide group, with a mean increase of 12.0 points compared to 6.5 points in the placebo group.