New research presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2025 suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists—widely used for Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity—may also have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in rheumatic diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and Osteoarthritis (OA). Source
Key findings include fewer disease flares in RA patients treated with GLP-1 agonists in addition to standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); and improved joint outcomes and pain/physical-function improvement in OA when GLP-1 treatment was compared with SGLT2 inhibitors.
This emerging cross-therapeutic effect suggests that metabolic modulation may play a role in immune-mediated diseases—a paradigm that blurs lines between endocrinology and rheumatology. For clinicians, these data raise questions about whether GLP-1 agonists should be considered in patients with comorbid metabolic and rheumatic conditions.
In summary, while more rigorous trials are required, the evidence is building that GLP-1 receptor agonists offer anti-inflammatory benefits beyond metabolism and might become adjuncts in treating rheumatic disease.
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