STEP 9
Semaglutide · 407 people · Better than the comparison · Placebo-controlled randomized trial
At week 68, the WOMAC knee pain score fell 41.7 points on semaglutide against 27.5 on placebo, with weight down 13.7% against 3.2%.
From FDA labels and ClinicalTrials.gov
Do GLP-1s help knee osteoarthritis?
No current GLP-1 label lists knee osteoarthritis as an approved use, so prescribing one for it would be off-label. STEP 9 (Semaglutide): At week 68, the WOMAC knee pain score fell 41.7 points on semaglutide against 27.5 on placebo, with weight down 13.7% against 3.2%. ClinicalTrials.gov lists 18 trials of these medicines on it: 2 with posted results and 0 recruiting now.
Read from the registry and PubMed every day. The newest update here is Oct 23, 2026.
Published results
What the largest trials on knee osteoarthritis found
Each read in the paper's abstract on Nov 6, 2026. Trials differ in who took part and how long they ran.
The registry
Trials on knee osteoarthritis, by medicine
A trial counts when the registry's conditions or title name this, and some study a related question, such as insulin sensitivity in people with the condition. A registered trial shows a question being asked, not that the answer is yes.
| Medicine | Trials | Posted results | Recruiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liraglutide | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Retatrutide | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Semaglutide | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Orforglipron | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirzepatide | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Posted results
What trials on knee osteoarthritis reported
Latest phases and largest trials first. Each result is the first primary outcome as its sponsor posted it to the registry, which is not peer review.
| Trial | Medicine | Phase | People | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05064735Research Study Looking at How Well Semaglutide Works in People Suffering From Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis | Semaglutide | Phase 3 | 407 | Percentage Change in Body Weight (Percentage change in body weight), Baseline (week 0), end of treatment (week 68). Semaglutide 2.4 mg: -14.2; Placebo: -2.5. |
| LASARESafety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of Intraarticular 4P004 Single Dose in Patient With KL 2-4 Osteoarthritic Knee | Liraglutide | Phase 1 | 34 | On ClinicalTrials.gov |
From PubMed
Newest papers on GLP-1s and knee osteoarthritis
- The effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists on osteoarthritis risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Meta-analysis · Acta Diabetol · May 8, 2026 · Zhou L et al.
- Emerging therapeutic potential of glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
Systematic review · Front Pharmacol · Oct 13, 2025 · Li Y et al. · cited by 1
- Erratum to "Liraglutide after diet-induced weight loss for pain and weight control in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial" Am J Clin Nutr. 2021: 113: 314-323
Randomized trial · Am J Clin Nutr · Jul 20, 2025 · Gudbergsen H et al.
Listed from Europe PMC as published, newest first. A listing here is not a judgement of a study's quality or a recommendation.
Updated automatically
What changed in trials on knee osteoarthritis
Written from each source's own record as it changes. Every change on GLPcompare
Questions
GLP-1s and knee osteoarthritis: common questions
What did the largest trial on knee osteoarthritis find?
STEP 9 (Semaglutide, 407 people): At week 68, the WOMAC knee pain score fell 41.7 points on semaglutide against 27.5 on placebo, with weight down 13.7% against 3.2%.
Is any GLP-1 FDA approved for knee osteoarthritis?
Not in any current label we read. A prescriber can still use a medicine off-label, but insurance often limits coverage to approved uses, so ask your plan.
Which GLP-1 has been studied most for knee osteoarthritis?
Liraglutide, with 12 registered trials on it, then Retatrutide with 2. More trials do not mean better results: read what each posted.
Can I join a trial of a GLP-1 for knee osteoarthritis?
None is recruiting on ClinicalTrials.gov now.
Other conditions
GLPcompare is an informational data platform, not a medical provider or pharmacy. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment. Data is aggregated from public sources and can be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm with a licensed clinician and the current FDA label.