Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Persons with Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis.

Bliddal H, Bays H, Czernichow S, Uddén Hemmingsson J, Hjelmesæth J, Hoffmann Morville T, Koroleva A, Skov Neergaard J, Vélez Sánchez P, Wharton S, Wizert A, Kristensen LE

The New England journal of medicine1 Oct 2024Cited by 261 (Europe PMC)

PMID39476339DOI10.1056/nejmoa2403664PepBankPUB-39476339

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced body weight by 13.7% versus 3.2% with placebo at week 68.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, semaglutide lowered body weight more than placebo over 68 weeks.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreasePercentage change in body weight at week 68
Study
n = 407
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean body weight change
−13.7%
semaglutide
Mean body weight change
−3.2%
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
The mean change in body weight from baseline to week 68 was -13.7% with semaglutide and -3.2% with placebo (P<0.001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The primary end points were the percentage change in body weight and the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score (on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting worse outcomes) from baseline to week 68.
Summary · context
Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcuta…
Report a problemFND-3947633901
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, semaglutide lowered WOMAC pain score by 41.7 points versus 27.5 points with placebo at week 68.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, semaglutide reduced knee pain more than placebo over 68 weeks.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWOMAC pain score change at week 68
Study
n = 407
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Pain · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
WOMAC pain change
−41.7 points
semaglutide
WOMAC pain change
−27.5 points
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
The mean change in the WOMAC pain score at week 68 was -41.7 points with semaglutide and -27.5 points with placebo (P<0.001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The primary end points were the percentage change in body weight and the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score (on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting worse outcomes) from baseline to week 68.
Summary · context
Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcuta…
Report a problemFND-3947633902
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, SF-36 physical function improved by 12.0 points with semaglutide versus 6.5 points with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, semaglutide improved physical function more than placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseSF-36 physical-function score
Study
n = 407
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
SF-36 physical-function change
12 points
semaglutide
SF-36 physical-function change
6.5 points
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Participants in the semaglutide group had a greater improvement in SF-36 physical-function score than those in the placebo group (mean change, 12.0 points vs. 6.5 points; P<0.001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A key confirmatory secondary end point was the physical-function score on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), version 2 (on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being).
Summary · context
Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcuta…
Report a problemFND-3947633903
04HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, the incidence of serious adverse events was similar with semaglutide and placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, serious side effects occurred at a similar rate with semaglutide and placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeSerious adverse events
Study
n = 407
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The incidence of serious adverse events was similar in the two groups.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcuta…
Report a problemFND-3947633904
05HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, adverse events led to permanent discontinuation in 6.7% with semaglutide versus 3.0% with placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, more people stopped semaglutide than placebo because of side effects.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAdverse events leading to permanent discontinuation
Study
n = 407
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Discontinuation due to adverse events
6.7%
semaglutide
Discontinuation due to adverse events
3%
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Adverse events that led to permanent discontinuation of the trial regimen occurred in 6.7% of the participants in the semaglutide group and in 3.0% in the placebo group, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most common reason for discontinuation.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcuta…
Report a problemFND-3947633905
06HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal disorders were the most common reason for discontinuation due to adverse events.
In plain wordsIn adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, digestive problems were the most common reason people stopped treatment.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
Not applicableGastrointestinal disorders as reason for discontinuation
Study
n = 407
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 68 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
with gastrointestinal disorders being the most common reason for discontinuation.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcuta…
Report a problemFND-3947633906

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials2

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

2 trials · 1 not yet recruiting · 1 completed · 1 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

Not yet recruitingPhase 2NCT07731256

Semaglutide for Low Back Pain

Washington University School of Medicinen = 250est. 1 Feb 2027 to est. 1 Sept 2031

Lower Back Pain · Obesity (BMI>30) · Chronic Lower Back Pain · glp1 Agonist

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 28 Jul 2026

CompletedPhase 3Results postedNCT05064735

Research Study Looking at How Well Semaglutide Works in People Suffering From Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis

Novo Nordisk A/Sn = 4071 Oct 2021 to 8 Sept 2023

Obesity

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 17 Nov 2025

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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