Reimagined Diabetes Medication Shows Promise in Alleviating Knee Osteoarthritis Pain for Overweight Patients

A groundbreaking clinical study led by Monash University reveals that metformin, a widely used medication for type 2 diabetes, may also offer significant relief from knee osteoarthritis pain in individuals who are overweight or obese. The research explored the potential of repurposing this familiar drug to improve symptoms and possibly delay the need for invasive procedures like knee replacements.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the trial involved 107 community-dwelling participants with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity, all without diabetes. Over a six-month period, participants took up to 2000 mg of metformin daily or a placebo, with the study conducted primarily via telehealth to facilitate community-wide participation.

Results demonstrated a notable reduction in knee pain among those treated with metformin. Specifically, the metformin group experienced an average decrease of 31.3 points on a 0-100 pain scale—considered a moderate yet meaningful improvement—compared to an 18.9-point decrease in the placebo group. These findings support the potential for metformin to serve as a cost-effective, accessible treatment for knee osteoarthritis in this population.

Professor Flavia Cicuttini of Monash University highlighted that current treatments such as exercise, weight loss, and medications often provide limited relief or are challenging for patients to maintain. With no new osteoarthritis drugs approved in Australia since the late 1990s, these results propose an alternative approach. Metformin may influence inflammatory and metabolic pathways involved in knee degeneration, offering a novel method to manage pain.

The use of metformin is familiar to general practitioners and known for its safety and affordability. Its application in knee osteoarthritis management could be introduced through off-label use, supported by telehealth consultations, making it especially accessible in regional and remote areas.

Further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger populations. Nonetheless, this study opens the door to an innovative, non-invasive strategy to improve quality of life for people with knee osteoarthritis and obesity, potentially safeguarding against early and unnecessary surgeries.

Researchers are now collaborating with healthcare professionals to integrate metformin into treatment pathways, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and redefine knee osteoarthritis management. This approach underscores the importance of exploring existing medications for new indications, broadening treatment options for chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-repurposed-diabetes-drug-pain-knee.html