New Drug Treats Walking Impairment: Hope for 200 Million Patients

A new international study has found that semaglutide, a medication widely used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, significantly improves walking distance, symptoms, and quality of life for individuals living with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and type 2 diabetes.

The findings come from the STRIDE trial, which was published in The Lancet. Peripheral artery disease affects more than 200 million people globally, including approximately 12 million in the United States.

The STRIDE Trial Results

The STRIDE trial was the first to evaluate the use of a GLP-1 agonist for the management of PAD. The study involved 792 adults with type 2 diabetes and early-stage symptomatic PAD, recruited from 112 medical centers across 20 countries.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 1 mg of semaglutide weekly for a period of 52 weeks. Researchers measured the participants’ maximal walking distance on a treadmill at several intervals: the start of the study, at 26 weeks, at 52 weeks, and five weeks after the treatment ended.

At the start of the study, many participants were significantly impaired, with most able to walk only about 186 meters before symptoms, such as leg pain, began.

By the end of the 52-week period, patients receiving semaglutide showed a statistically significant 13% improvement in their walking ability. Specifically, the group saw a median increase in walking distance of 26 meters and an average improvement of 40 meters.

While these numbers may appear small, researchers noted that in the context of PAD, an increase of 10 to 20 meters is considered clinically important.

Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease

PAD occurs when cholesterol and fat build up in the arteries of the legs. This process reduces blood flow, which often makes walking painful or difficult for the patient.

If left unmanaged, PAD can lead to severe complications, including death, limb amputation, and non-healing wounds.

Until now, treatment options for improving walking ability in PAD patients have been limited. Cilostazol is the only other approved drug for this purpose, but it is rarely used because it is not safe for people with heart failure and carries significant side effects.

Clinical Significance and Timeline

The results indicate that the benefits of the drug appeared early and continued to grow over the course of the year. According to data released on March 29, 2025, there was a clear benefit observed at six months that increased by the one-year mark.

The trial demonstrates that semaglutide may offer a viable alternative for managing the physical impairments associated with PAD, particularly for those who also have type 2 diabetes.