New weight-loss drug wipes out chronic knee pain in some patients, researchers say

Key Points:

• Two clinical trials led by Northwestern University found that the experimental weight-loss drug retatrutide significantly reduced chronic knee pain and improved mobility in obese adults with knee osteoarthritis.
• Retatrutide, an injectable medication mimicking three appetite and metabolism hormones, led to an average weight loss of about 25% over 68 to 80 weeks and resulted in roughly two-thirds of treated patients experiencing at least a 50% reduction in knee pain.
• Participants also showed improvements in blood pressure, blood lipid levels, and systemic inflammation, though gastrointestinal side effects and serious adverse events were more common compared to placebo.
• The drug showed promise particularly for obese patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis who have not progressed to bone-on-bone damage, but the study excluded non-obese patients, those with advanced osteoarthritis, and those needing knee replacement surgery.
• Researchers recommend weight loss through diet and exercise first and suggest that patients fitting the study profile discuss retatrutide treatment options with their healthcare providers as a potential way to reduce knee pain and gain cardiometabolic benefits.