Weight-Loss Drugs Highlighted as 'Easy' Option to Improve PsO Therapies
Any dermatologist not prescribing weight-loss drugs for psoriasis patients who are obese likely will be soon, according to Mark Lebwohl, MD.
Dr. Lebwohl, speaking at the Winter Clinical Hawaii 2025 meeting in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, highlighted data indicating an association between comorbid obesity and poorer treatment response to biologics.1
“What we know very well is that patients who are obese don’t do very well on biologic therapies … obesity has an adverse impact on response to drugs,” he said.
Dr. Lebwohl then described a case in which he prescribed tirzepatide for a patient who had not been responding well to biologics. The patient lost 60 lbs in 6 months, at which point he was completely clear and also reported improvement in his psoriatic arthritis.
“You’re all going to be doing this in a few years,” Dr. Lebwohl said. “It is the easiest drug to prescribe. The monitoring is trivial and the side effects are easy to deal with.”
1. Enos CW, Ramos VL, et al. Comorbid obesity and history of diabetes are independently associated with poorer treatment response to biologics at 6 months: A prospective analysis in Corrona Psoriasis Registry. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;86(1):68-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.06.883.