Published May 22, 2026
GLP-1 Drugs May Help Treat Psoriasis
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may benefit people with psoriasis, a review published in JAMA Dermatology suggests.
GLP-1 drugs are already approved for a variety of conditions that commonly occur alongside psoriasis, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. But emerging evidence indicates that these medications may also improve psoriatic skin disease, potentially through immune modulation.
The US National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board analyzed existing evidence on the use of GLP-1 drugs in patients with psoriasis. According to the findings, the medications were associated with a decrease in affected body surface area and severity of skin disease, ranging from about 40% to 80%. The biggest effects were observed in patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes, and the reductions were accompanied by quality-of-life improvements.
Although the review found that GLP-1 medications may target metabolic and inflammatory pathways associated with psoriasis, most studies were small, short-term, and lacked a control group, the researchers said. They emphasized that large randomized clinical trials are needed to draw definitive conclusions but that clinicians may consider GLP-1 drugs for certain patients with psoriasis, particularly those with metabolic comorbidities.