Lilly's Zepbound Plus Arthritis Drug Taltz Eases Joint Pain

Eli Lilly’s (LLY) Zepbound, when used in combination with its psoriatic arthritis treatment Taltz, improved both joint pain and weight loss in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and obesity according to the late-stage trial.

The late-stage clinical trial, known as TOGETHER-PsA, found that 31.7% of participants who took the combination therapy met the primary endpoint of at least a 50% reduction in arthritis disease activity and at least a 10% weight loss after 36 weeks. This was significantly higher than the 0.8% of patients who achieved the same outcome with Taltz alone.

Lilly reported that 33.5% of patients on the Zepbound and Taltz combination achieved a 50% reduction in disease activity compared with 20.4% of those on Taltz alone.

Why Did This Happen?

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition often associated with psoriasis. It can lead to joint pain, stiffness, and other complications according to clinical data.

Lilly’s Zepbound, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, is already approved for weight loss and has shown benefits in reducing inflammation according to Bloomberg. Adding it to Taltz, an IL-17A inhibitor, appears to address both the immune and metabolic aspects of the condition as research indicates.

The study enrolled 271 overweight or obese adults with active psoriatic arthritis and at least one additional weight-related condition.

How Did Markets React?

Lilly’s results represent a significant step forward in treating psoriatic arthritis, especially for patients with comorbid obesity according to market analysis.

Mark Genovese, senior vice president of Lilly Immunology Development, highlighted the potential of this integrated treatment approach to improve patient care in an official statement.

The most common side effects included nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, which were generally mild to moderate as reported in the trial.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Lilly plans to discuss the trial results with drug regulators to potentially update the label for Taltz and expand its use in psoriatic arthritis according to company plans.

The psoriasis and arthritis markets are already competitive, with multiple biologics and oral therapies in development according to market research.

The company is also exploring the use of Zepbound in other inflammatory conditions, such as plaque psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease as reported.

Results from the trial in plaque psoriasis are expected in the first half of 2026 according to trial timelines.

Lilly is also developing new obesity treatments, such as retatrutide, and has partnered with Nimbus Therapeutics to create an oral obesity therapy as announced.

Taltz is already generating more than $3 billion in annual sales, but its patent protection will expire in the next few years according to financial reports.

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is also exploring new obesity treatments that could enhance the effects of GLP-1 agonists like Zepbound as detailed in analysis.

The obesity and psoriasis markets are expected to grow significantly as new therapies continue to emerge according to market projections.

The psoriasis market is projected to reach $33.4 billion in 2024 and will continue to expand through 2034 according to industry analysis.

Lilly’s ability to integrate multiple therapies could position it as a leader in both obesity and autoimmune disease treatments as industry observers note.

The combined approach may also influence treatment guidelines and change how psoriatic arthritis is managed according to medical experts.

The psoriasis market is currently dominated by biologics such as IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors, but new oral therapies are expected to challenge this landscape as market research shows.

The success of Zepbound in multiple conditions may help Lilly maintain its leadership in the obesity market according to market analysis.

Lilly’s ongoing trials and partnerships suggest a strategic focus on expanding the applications of its obesity drug portfolio as reported.

The psoriasis market is expected to welcome new therapies such as zasocitinib, icotrokinra, and piclidenoson in the coming years according to industry forecasts.

Lilly’s results in psoriatic arthritis could influence how other weight-related conditions are approached in treatment as medical experts observe.

The company’s integrated treatment strategy may set a new standard for managing complex diseases with overlapping conditions according to market analysis.