A new study published June 2, 2026, in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine found that people with knee osteoarthritis who used GLP-1 drugs had a lower risk of undergoing total knee replacement. The effect was strongest for those taking semaglutide or tirzepatide for three years, with nearly 5%…
A study published online June 2, 2026, in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine suggests that GLP-1 medications may help patients with knee osteoarthritis avoid or delay total knee replacement surgery. The research, conducted using a large health database, included tens of thousands of adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Some of these individuals were taking GLP-1 drugs, while others were not.
Previous research had already found that GLP-1 medications can help relieve knee pain caused by arthritis, likely because the weight loss associated with these drugs reduces excess stress on the knees. The new study went a step further by examining whether use of these drugs was linked to a lower likelihood of undergoing knee replacement surgery.
The study examined both older and newer GLP-1 medications. Among the older drugs included were liraglutide marketed as Saxenda and Victoza , dulaglutide Trulicity , exenatide Byetta , and lixisenatide Adlyxin . The newer drugs included semaglutide sold as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy and tirzepatide sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound . Researchers compared outcomes for patients who took any of these drugs for either one year or three years against those who did not take any GLP-1 medication.
When the researchers compared the two groups, they found that use of any GLP-1 drug for one or three years was associated with a lower chance of having a total knee replacement. The greatest reduction in risk was seen among patients who took semaglutide or tirzepatide for three years. In this group, there were nearly 5% fewer knee replacements over the eight-year follow-up period.
The findings indicate that GLP-1 medications may offer benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar control. The drugs could play a role in helping people with knee osteoarthritis manage their condition and potentially avoid surgery. The study authors note that the effect is likely driven by weight reduction, which alleviates mechanical stress on the knee joint, but other mechanisms may also be involved.
The study is referenced as: Carter V, Desverreaux E, Amin I, et al. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use and risk of arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis: retrospective database analysis. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2026. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2026-107658. The research was originally conducted by scientists at Harvard Medical School.
The study was published on July 17, 2026, and adds to the growing body of evidence that GLP-1 drugs have broad health effects. Future research may further clarify how these medications can be used to prevent or delay joint replacements in patients with osteoarthritis.
Peptides referenced: Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Liraglutide, Exenatide, Dulaglutide, Lixisenatide, Glucagon, GLP-1.
Related reading: Compounded Weight-Loss Drugs Persist at Medical Spas Despite Shortage End, Compounding pharmacies continue to dominate GLP-1 drug supply, Tablet Version of Weight Loss Drug Heading to European Markets, European Commission Approves Wegovy Oral Tablet for Weight Loss.