GLP-1 receptor agonists show promise in cutting death and heart risk in psoriasis patients

Why are researchers linking GLP-1 receptor agonists to reduced cardiovascular and mortality risks in psoriasis patients?

Psoriasis has long been viewed as a chronic inflammatory skin condition, but medical evidence increasingly points to its systemic impact—especially on cardiovascular health and life expectancy. New data presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2025 now suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)—a class of drugs best known for their role in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity—may also significantly lower mortality and major cardiovascular event risks in people living with psoriasis. The study, the largest of its kind, reported that psoriasis patients on GLP-1RAs faced a 78% lower risk of death and a 44% lower risk of experiencing serious heart-related events compared to their peers on other anti-diabetic or anti-obesity drugs.

The research tapped into a massive U.S. patient database covering more than 110 million individuals, drawing from over 6,000 psoriasis patients who also had diabetes or obesity. Using propensity score matching to balance age, sex, and co-existing conditions, researchers compared outcomes for 3,048 patients on GLP-1RAs with 3,048 on other treatments. The results revealed strikingly consistent benefits across all sensitivity analyses, providing a robust signal that GLP-1 receptor activation might deliver protective effects beyond weight and glucose control.

Historically, the intersection between metabolic disease and psoriasis has been underexplored despite overlapping inflammatory pathways. This new data could push clinicians to rethink integrated treatment strategies, especially given that cardiovascular disease is among the leading causes of premature death in psoriasis patients. If GLP-1RAs can effectively reduce this burden, their use could mark a paradigm shift in managing the systemic risks of psoriasis.

How could GLP-1 receptor activation biologically influence inflammation and mental health in psoriasis?

What makes this study stand out is its exploration of psychiatric and behavioral outcomes. The researchers found that GLP-1RA use was associated with a 65% reduction in alcohol abuse and nearly a 50% reduction in substance abuse among psoriasis patients—an unexpected but potentially transformative finding. Psoriasis is well-documented to heighten risks of depression, anxiety, and maladaptive coping behaviors such as substance use. This suggests GLP-1 receptor activation may affect more than metabolism; it could also influence neuropsychiatric pathways.

According to the lead study author Professor Ralf Ludwig, one hypothesis is that GLP-1 receptor stimulation suppresses proinflammatory mediators known to be elevated in psoriasis. These inflammatory cytokines contribute to both skin lesions and systemic complications, so damping their activity could indirectly improve mood and reduce cravings associated with the brain’s reward system. GLP-1 receptors are also expressed in brain regions tied to emotion regulation and addictive behaviors, possibly explaining the improvements in alcohol and substance-related outcomes observed in the study.

This neuroimmunological angle aligns with earlier animal and small-scale human studies that hinted at GLP-1’s influence on mood regulation. While more targeted trials will be needed to confirm causation, this evidence points toward a novel dual benefit: improving both the physical and psychological burden of psoriasis.

What makes these findings significant in the broader context of psoriasis treatment strategies?

Psoriasis affects an estimated 2–3% of the global population and has traditionally been managed with topical therapies, phototherapy, systemic immunosuppressants, and biologic drugs targeting specific cytokines such as TNF-alpha or IL-17. These treatments primarily focus on skin clearance and reducing inflammation but often leave cardiovascular and psychiatric comorbidities underaddressed. By contrast, GLP-1RAs like semaglutide and liraglutide are not part of the traditional dermatology arsenal—they emerged from endocrinology as tools for blood sugar control and, more recently, weight reduction.

The revelation that they could dramatically cut mortality and cardiovascular risk in psoriasis reframes them as potential multitarget therapeutics. Importantly, the study reported no uptick in adverse events, such as hypoglycemia, nausea, or constipation, compared with general population safety profiles. This bolsters the case for their safe integration into dermatological care plans for patients who also have metabolic disorders.

If further studies validate these findings, clinical guidelines could eventually evolve to recommend GLP-1RAs as adjunctive therapy for psoriasis patients at high cardiometabolic risk. This would represent a major shift in dermatology practice, positioning metabolic health management as a core pillar of psoriasis care rather than a parallel concern handled by other specialists.

How might the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors respond to this emerging therapeutic opportunity?

The implications of this study could reverberate across multiple industries. Pharmaceutical companies marketing GLP-1RAs—such as Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) with semaglutide and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) with liraglutide—could see expanded demand if dermatologists begin prescribing these agents more widely for psoriasis-related comorbidity management. Given that both companies have already seen their stock prices surge on the back of booming demand for GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs, the prospect of a new indication could reinforce investor optimism and spur fresh R&D investment into psoriasis-specific GLP-1 formulations or combination therapies.

Investor sentiment around these stocks has remained highly bullish in 2025, with Novo Nordisk’s market capitalization crossing $600 billion and Eli Lilly recently hitting all-time highs on expectations of double-digit annual revenue growth driven by obesity drug sales. Institutional ownership of both stocks remains heavy, reflecting strong buy-side confidence, while options market data shows robust call-buying interest—a signal that traders are pricing in further upside. If the dermatology use case materializes, analysts expect it could open an incremental multi-billion-dollar market within the next decade, potentially driving another leg of growth for the GLP-1 franchise.

Healthcare systems, meanwhile, may view this cross-specialty application as an opportunity to reduce long-term costs associated with cardiovascular events and mental health crises in psoriasis patients. Payers could become more receptive to covering GLP-1RAs for this population if the drugs are shown to lower hospitalizations and improve quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This dynamic could also influence formulary decisions, value-based care contracts, and reimbursement models, nudging the pharmaceutical industry to position GLP-1s not just as lifestyle or metabolic interventions but as disease-modifying agents in chronic inflammatory disorders.

What are the next steps for clinical validation and regulatory consideration of GLP-1RAs in psoriasis?

While the findings presented at EADV 2025 are compelling, they remain observational and retrospective, which means causality has not yet been proven. Randomized controlled trials will be essential to establish definitive efficacy and safety for GLP-1RAs in psoriasis populations. Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) would require such data before granting a formal indication expansion for psoriasis.

Pharmaceutical companies could be incentivized to sponsor these trials given the potential market opportunity and the alignment with broader trends in precision medicine. There is a growing push to repurpose existing drugs for new indications to accelerate innovation and reduce development costs, and GLP-1RAs are well-positioned to ride this wave. The favorable safety record of these drugs could also streamline the approval process if efficacy is clearly demonstrated.

In parallel, real-world evidence registries could be built to track psoriasis outcomes among patients already taking GLP-1RAs for other reasons, providing a continuous data stream to validate and refine clinical guidelines. As more dermatologists and endocrinologists collaborate on shared care models, this integration could accelerate, setting the stage for a more holistic approach to managing the multisystem burden of psoriasis.

Ultimately, the study’s revelations hint at a future where the lines between dermatology, endocrinology, cardiology, and psychiatry blur, with GLP-1RAs serving as a bridge therapy addressing all these domains. If the ongoing momentum around these drugs continues, their role in reshaping chronic disease management may only just be beginning.