Study Finds GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Benefit Patients with Obesity, Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a promising medication for individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and obesity and potentially even for those without obesity, recent findings suggest.1

These findings were the results of a recent analysis published in JAMA and authored by Louise Gouvrion, MD, from the Department of Dermatology at the Rennes University Hospital in France, alongside a set of other trial investigators. Gouvrion and colleagues highlighted that over 50% of those with HS are living with obesity, and noted that weight loss, typically via diet or obesity surgery, had previously been shown to be beneficial among most with HS.2

“Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), originally developed for the management of type 2 diabetes, have demonstrated major efficacy in inducing weight loss and could also possess anti-inflammatory properties, prompting investigation into their impact on HS,” Gouvrion and colleagues wrote.1

Trial Design Details

The investigative team conducted a retrospective, multi-center cohort study in which they evaluated those living with HS who were treated with GLP-1 RAs in the timeframe between 2017 - 2024. Participants deemed as eligible subjects were adults with dermatologist-confirmed HS, specifically with Hidradenitis Suppurativa Physician’s Global Assessment [HS-PGA] scores of ≥1. These subjects would also have been treated with a GLP-1 RA for at least 3 months.

Data on these individuals were collected from the HS-France network by Gouvrion et al along with electronic health records drawn from 8 French hospitals. At baseline, Gouvrion and coauthors evaluated clinical outcomes at baseline, at the 6-month mark, and either discontinuation of treatment or the most recent follow-up interaction. Such outcomes included HS-PGA, severity of pain (Numerical Rating Scale [NRS]-Pain), counts of flares, suppuration (NRS-Suppuration), body mass index (BMI), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores.

Comparisons made between baseline and Month 6 were done via paired t tests, with statistical significance being defined by the investigative team as P < .05. Additional analyses were conducted among a subgroup of trial participants who had no modifications to their treatment regimen for HS during the 12 months prior to the 6-month mark.

Notable Findings on GLP-1s for HS

Across 15 centers, 66 individuals with HS were included in this analysis. Gouvrion and colleagues found that subjects' median duration of GLP-1 RA therapy was shown to be 18.5 months. The median (IQR) age of patients was shown to be 46.0 (37.5–54.0) years, and 58% of the participants were women. Among these subjects, 48 were given semaglutide, 13 given dulaglutide, and 5 given liraglutide. The median (IQR) BMI was 39.4 (32.9–45.0), and diabetes was present in 57 individuals (86%).

During the time of patients' GLP-1 RA initiation, 53% of the population were given concomitant HS medications, including broad-spectrum antibiotics (n=3), suspensive antibiotics (n=23), or biologics (n=9). Severity of disease by Hurley stage was distributed as follows: stage I in 45% of the trial subjects, stage II in 32%, and stage III in 23%. 54% of patients at the 6-month mark attained at least a 1-point HS-PGA reduction, with 12% of the subjects having a reduction of ≥2-points. By the time of discontinuation or last follow-up, such proportions rose to 62% and 32%, respectively.

Gouvrion et al noted disease flare reductions in 60% at the 6-month mark and 67% by the time of the last follow-up. Similarly, the investigators observed improvements in NRS-Pain scores in 52% at the 6-month mark and 60% by the time of the last follow-up. They also found that DLQI improved in 50% and 52%, respectively, and that NRS-Suppuration diminished in 53% and 58%, respectively.

Within the subgroup of 34 individuals whose HS medications had remained unchanged in the year before the 6-month mark, as well as among the overall study population, all clinical outcomes were shown to lead to a statistically significant reduction at the 6-month mark (P < .05).

“GLP-1 RAs offer promise for patients with HS and obesity and potentially for patients without obesity through immunological effects,” the investigative team concluded.1 “Randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm the role of GLP-1 RAs in HS management.”

References

1. Gouvrion L, Delage M, Villani AP, et al. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Hidradenitis Suppurativa. JAMA Dermatol. Published online August 13, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.2723.

2. Weber I, Giefer J, Martin KL. Effects of exercise and dietary modifications on hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2023;24(3):343-357. doi:10.1007/s40257-023-00756-w.