Novo Nordisk trials weight loss drugs to treat sleep apnoea and knee pain
Ed Milner | Last update: 19th September 2025
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, is now testing its weight loss drugs for use in conditions beyond weight management, including sleep apnoea and knee osteoarthritis. It’s the latest sign that GLP-1 drugs could support wider health improvements, not just the number on the scales
Novo Nordisk expands its focus
In a move that could reshape how weight loss medications are used, Novo Nordisk has launched trials exploring how its GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Wegovy (semaglutide), might help treat:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea, a sleep-related breathing disorder closely linked to excess weight
- Knee osteoarthritis, a painful joint condition often worsened by carrying excess weight
This shift is part of Novo’s broader push to position weight loss drugs as multi-condition treatments, helping manage or reduce the risks of various health problems tied to obesity.
Early results show wider benefits
These new trials build on existing research that shows weight loss drugs can:
- Reduce the risk of serious heart events in people with cardiovascular disease (read Weight loss drugs and heart benefits)
- Lower the risk of some cancers, including colorectal and liver cancer (read Can Mounjaro help fight cancer?)
- Improve symptoms in conditions like fatty liver disease and insulin resistance
SlimrChat’s view
At SlimrChat, we’ve long believed these drugs do more than help people lose weight. This new focus on conditions like sleep apnoea and knee pain confirms what many in our community already feel, that the real benefit is a healthier, more mobile, and better-quality life.
The debate shouldn’t just be about “getting thinner”, it should be about helping people feel and function better. If weight loss drugs can safely do that across multiple conditions, we’re all for it.