Weight loss drug shown to reduce knee arthritis pain
Clinical trial included 400 participants from 11 countries
A weight loss drug has proven to sharply reduce pain from knee arthritis, according to a clinical trial conducted in 11 countries.
This groundbreaking trial demonstrates that semaglutide, widely known as Ozempic, can provide pain relief comparable to that of opioid drugs.
The trial involved 400 participants from five continents, some of whom received weekly injections of a placebo while others received semaglutide. At the start of the trial, participants had obesity levels so high that even walking was painful.
After 68 weeks of injections, those taking semaglutide lost significantly more weight than those on the placebo and reported decreased pain, allowing for improved daily activities such as climbing stairs.
By the end of the trial, several participants experienced such substantial relief that they were no longer eligible for the study.
"They got a therapy that was so effective that they more or less were treated out of the study," said Henning Bliddal, a rheumatologist at Copenhagen University Hospital at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, who helped conduct the trial.
The results are “important and could be helpful” for people with knee osteoarthritis, said Leigh Callahan, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The findings were published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Trial sponsored by Ozempic manufacturer
The trial was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes Ozempic for treating diabetes and Wegovy for treating obesity. Bliddal has served as a paid consultant to the company, according to Nature.
Osteoarthritis is among the most common conditions of aging, with stiff joints and knee pain being prevalent ailments. Obesity exacerbates these symptoms, often preventing individuals from exercising to lose weight. Semaglutide also has anti-inflammatory effects that may contribute to pain relief.
However, there are challenges. The drugs are expensive, costing a couple of hundred dollars a month. Additionally, participants may regain weight once they stop taking the medication.
To address this, participants were provided counseling on healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes.
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