Weekly injections of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, led to significant reductions in body weight and knee osteoarthritis-related pain, according to a phase 3 study by Novo Nordisk.
The trial's primary endpoints were changes in body weight and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain score in adults with obesity and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis.
Of the 407 study participants, 81.6% were women and the mean body mass index was 40.3 at the start of the trial. After 68 weeks, BMIs decreased by 13.7% in the semaglutide group and 3.2% in the placebo group. The mean WOMAC pain score dropped by 41.7 points in the semaglutide cohort compared to 27.5 points in the placebo cohort.
The semaglutide group also experienced more improvements in physical function, according to results published Oct. 30 in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Obesity is a major risk factor for the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis, according to Novo Nordisk. Wegovy is indicated for chronic weight management in adults who are overweight or obese, though it is not currently approved for knee osteoarthritis.
Based on these results, Novo Nordisk stated, "We look forward to working with regulatory authorities on next steps based on these findings."