Study: Biologics Safe with GLP-1 RAs? Insights from 250 Patients

In a review of adults treated with both a GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) and a dermatologic biologic, most patients stayed on combined therapy for an average of 19 months. Discontinuations due to side effects were relatively low, offering key insights into safety.

Study Methodology

Researchers performed a retrospective chart review of 250 adult patients from Mass General Brigham. These patients received both a GLP-1 RA and a biologic from January 2015 to October 2025.

• The first 50 patients per biologic: adalimumab, dupilumab, risankizumab, secukinumab, and ustekinumab.
• Average follow-up: 19 months.

Key Takeaways

• 146 patients (58%) continued both medications for an average of 19 months.
• 53 patients (21%) stopped biologics after 20 months of co-therapy.
• 51 patients (20%) discontinued GLP-1 RA after 14 months on both.
• Side effects caused 19% of biologic discontinuations and 39% of GLP-1 RA discontinuations.
• Reported effects aligned with known profiles of individual therapies, not drug interactions.

Clinical Implications

"Our results suggest that co-therapy of biologics and GLP-1 RA does not appear to pose significant tolerability or safety risks," the study authors stated. "This offers reassurance for clinicians managing a growing population of patients with complex comorbidities requiring both immunologic and metabolic therapies."

Study Details and Limitations

Co-led by Juna Khang, BA, and Katherine Brag, MD, from the Department of Dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. Published online January 20 as a brief report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Limitations include retrospective design, no comparator group, selection bias, potential underreporting of adverse events, and limited generalizability.

No funding received; authors reported no conflicts of interest.