Novo's semaglutide promising for chronic skin condition in obese patients

A small-scale study conducted by researchers at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin points to the potential effectiveness of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 semaglutide in treating hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a prevalent and chronic skin condition.

Presented on Wednesday at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology’s annual conference in Amsterdam, the study analyzed data collected from June 2020 through March 2023. The research involved 30 obese patients diagnosed with HS who began treatment with semaglutide. The findings revealed that these patients experienced a notable reduction in the frequency of disease flare-ups. Before starting semaglutide, flare-ups occurred approximately every 8.5 weeks, but after treatment began, this interval extended to about every 12 weeks. Alongside the reduction in flare-ups, patients also benefited from other positive effects of the drug, such as weight loss and better blood sugar control.

Dr. Daniel Lyons, the study's principal investigator, expressed optimism about the results, stating, "The results are highly encouraging and could represent a major breakthrough in HS treatment." He emphasized the need for larger randomized controlled trials to confirm these promising findings and further establish the drug’s efficacy for HS.

Semaglutide is widely recognized under the brand names Wegovy, which is prescribed for weight loss, and Ozempic, used for managing diabetes. It has already demonstrated potential benefits in treating various conditions, including heart failure and obesity.