Eli Lilly’s investigational triple-glucagon receptor agonist demonstrated significant weight loss and pain reduction in a Phase 3 clinical trial involving patients with knee osteoarthritis. The drug achieved an average body weight reduction of 28.7% while improving joint pain and physical function.
- Phase 3 trial demonstrated a 28.7% average reduction in body weight with the triple-glucagon receptor agonist.
- Patients reported significant pain reduction, measured by WOMAC scale improvements.
- The drug showed enhanced physical function and daily activity capacity in osteoarthritis patients.
- Results could support regulatory submissions in 2026 with potential approval in major markets.
- The dual efficacy profile positions the drug as a potential breakthrough in osteoarthritis and metabolic disease management.
Eli Lilly’s investigational triple-glucagon receptor agonist, currently in late-stage development, has shown compelling results in a Phase 3 trial targeting patients with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment led to an average body weight reduction of 28.7% over the course of the study, a figure that underscores its potent metabolic impact. Beyond weight loss, participants reported statistically significant reductions in knee pain, with improvements measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale. The dual benefits—substantial weight loss and alleviation of joint pain—highlight the drug’s potential to address both metabolic and musculoskeletal aspects of osteoarthritis, a condition often exacerbated by excess body weight. The trial included a diverse cohort of patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, many of whom had previously struggled with conventional therapies. The observed improvements in physical function and daily activity levels suggest the drug could offer a meaningful quality-of-life benefit. The data from this pivotal trial are expected to support regulatory submissions in the United States and Europe, with potential approval anticipated in late 2026. If approved, the drug would join Eli Lilly’s existing portfolio of weight-loss and diabetes therapeutics, including Mounjaro and Zepbound, and could expand the company’s presence in the $100 billion global osteoarthritis therapeutics market. The results also strengthen investor confidence in Eli Lilly’s pipeline, particularly for its multi-target metabolic therapies.