Medical researchers have discovered that semaglutide may reverse the debilitating tissue damage caused by osteoarthritis, the world’s most common form of arthritis.

The drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy is best known for treating type 2 diabetes and helping people lose weight. But the new study found semaglutide appears to protect joints in mice through a mechanism that’s not about easing pressure through weight loss.

Instead, the drug reprograms the metabolism of cells that synthesize and maintain healthy cartilage, allowing them to generate more energy.