The results of a study funded by drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk has found a link between semaglutide and a reduction in knee pain.^[1]Segumaltide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, is a GLP-1 agonist initially proven to treat diabetes. In recent years, it has made headlines as a weight loss treatment. The study found that participants with obesity who took semaglutide saw a reduction in osteoarthritis knee pain.

The 68-week study included 407 participants, approximately 82% of whom were women.^[1] Researchers measured participants’ pain using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). The average participant WOMAC pain score at the start of the trial was 70.9. After 68 weeks, participants receiving semaglutide reported an average WOMAC score of 29.2. Participants who received the placebo reported an average score of 43.4.

Participants also saw a reduction in body weight. Those receiving semaglutide experienced an average reduction in body weight of 13.7%. Study participants who received a placebo experienced only a 3.2% reduction.

 The reductions in body weight seen in the Novo Nordisk study are similar to those observed in previous studies and add to a mounting pile of evidence supporting the use of semaglutide as a weight loss treatment.

“By mimicking the effects of the natural hormone, GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic can help curb hunger by slowing down the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. Consequently, you’d feel full faster and longer, thus reducing the amount of food consumed,” HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, PharmD, a pharmacist and clinical consultant for BuzzRx, tells MDLinx.

Finding new uses for Ozempic

The potential link between these medications and a reduction in pain is just one of the numerous potential benefits being studied. Research has found that Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists may prove to be treatment options for substance use disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney failure, and liver disease.^[1] Jonathan Ramnauth, PharmD, a Sterile Compounding Pharmacist at Olympia Pharmaceuticals, says that these many effects could be linked to the weight loss experienced by those who take GLP-1 agonists.

“With a wonder medication class like [the] GLP-1 agonist, you begin to see a domino effect of comorbidities begin to decline as the weight declines,” Dr. Ramnauth explains. “This correlation is mainly due to the impact weight has on the body to a cellular level, degrading homeostasis in the body and ultimately leading to a variety of healthcare conditions.”

Additionally, the pathways and brain areas that respond to GLP-1 agonists are the same as those linked to some addiction and mental health conditions. For instance, GLP-1 agonists affect the same areas of the brain as the dopamine release associated with addictive behaviors. Researchers are currently studying GLP-1 agonists as a treatment for alcohol use disorder. Similar research is exploring the medication as a treatment for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

None of these uses for GLP-agonists have been fully proven. More research is needed to determine whether there are more conditions for which GLP-1 agonists can be an effective treatment, and which patients will be the best candidates for these uses. Studies, however, continue to demonstrate these additional uses, and the data to support a broader use of GLP-1 agonists is likely to grow.

“Even though more research is necessary to solidify their roles in managing other conditions, it is exhilarating to see that GLP-1 agonist medications can expand their roles beyond blood glucose control, weight management, and cardiac health,” Dr. Ngo-Hamilton says.