Oral roflumilast reduces weight gain and appetite in psoriasis patients

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that oral roflumilast that is a commonly used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), could be a beneficial drug for individuals with psoriasis and struggling with weight issues. 

The findings stem from post-hoc analyses of the PSORRO study that focused on the patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either oral roflumilast or a placebo for 12 weeks and were followed by open-label treatment for another 12 weeks. Also, no lifestyle or dietary interventions were implemented during the study.

The results from this study revealed that patients taking roflumilast experienced significant weight loss when compared to the individuals on placebo. At week 12, the median weight change was reported as -2.6% that increased to -4% by week 24. Also, patients initially on placebo saw minimal changes in weight, with figures around 0.0% at week 12 and only a slight decrease of -1.3% by week 24.

Furthermore, along with weight loss, the patients on roflumilast reported a reduction in appetite that indicated a potential mechanism contributing to the observed weight changes. It is worth noting that no significant alterations were detected in blood pressure or laboratory tests which suggests a relatively safe profile for the medication.

The outcomes acknowledge the limitations of this study including its post-hoc nature and a relatively small sample size. The consistent findings of weight reduction and decreased appetite underscore the potential of roflumilast as a valuable addition to the treatment arsenal for psoriasis patients who are suffering with excess weight.

Reference:

Gyldenløve, M., Sørensen, J. A., Fage, S., Meteran, H., Skov, L., Zachariae, C., Knop, F. K., Nielsen, M.-L., & Egeberg, A. (2024). Effects of oral roflumilast therapy on body weight and cardiometabolic parameters in patients with psoriasis – results from a randomized controlled trial (PSORRO). In Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2024.02.036