Experimental weight-loss drug eases painful knee osteoarthritis in two clinical trials

AI Summary

Two Phase III clinical trials involving more than 1,000 participants found that the highest dose of experimental injectable retatrutide reduced body weight by about one-quarter on average among participants with painful knee osteoarthritis who were overweight or had obesity. The trials were led by Northwestern University and reported improved knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

For people with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) who are overweight or have obesity, everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs and standing up from a chair can be difficult. In two Northwestern University–led Phase III clinical trials involving more than 1,000 participants combined, those taking the highest dose of retatrutide, a new experimental weight-loss injectable drug, lost about one-quarter of their body weight on average.