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Potential of GLP-1 agents in rheumatology

By Priscilla Lynch - 26th Jan 2026

iStock.com/zimmytws

Emerging research presented at the ACR Convergence 2025 conference suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may also play a promising role in the management of rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and osteoarthritis (OA).

Key findings

▶ RA and reduced flares (abstract 2128553): RA patients on DMARDs who also received SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1 agonists had fewer disease flares, pointing to potential anti-inflammatory effects.

▶ Semaglutide in RA (abstract 2107645): Use of semaglutide was associated with improved joint outcomes, raising the possibility of a disease-modifying effect.

▶ GLP-1 in OA (abstract 2118925): Compared to SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists delivered greater improvements in pain and physical function in OA patients.

▶ Prevention of autoimmune disease (abstract 2128560): A large multi-centre TriNetX study found GLP-1 agonist use was linked to lower risk of developing immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity.

▶ PsA benefits (abstract 2125555): GLP-1 therapy was associated with symptom improvement in PsA while also enhancing metabolic parameters.

Diet and disease links

▶ Diet and RA risk (abstract 2115865): A systematic review showed that healthy dietary patterns reduce the risk of developing RA.

▶ Dietary interventions in PsA (abstract 2125527): A randomised trial demonstrated that targeted diet changes improved disease activity in patients with PsA.

“These findings highlight a growing recognition of the intersection between metabolic health and rheumatic disease,” said Shreya Sakthivel, Chief Resident, Internal Medicine, Anne Arundel Medical Center and principal investigator for the RA and reduced flares study. “GLP-1 therapies, in particular, are emerging as dual-action agents that not only improve cardiometabolic risk factors but may also influence disease activity and long-term outcomes for patients with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.”

ACR Convergence 2025 took place October 24–29 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, US. For more information see https://rheumatology.org/annual-meeting