Eli Lilly has announced it will present new research findings on several of its skin condition treatments at a dermatology conference this October, including studies on a psoriasis medicine called ixekizumab. The findings are relevant to anyone managing psoriasis alongside inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), since ixekizumab is already known to carry a caution about bowel symptoms that patients and doctors are advised to watch for.
Background
Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition caused by the immune system becoming overactive, leading to red, scaly patches on the skin. Many people with psoriasis also live with obesity, and some also have IBD, a group of conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis that cause ongoing inflammation in the gut. Doctors have long known that the immune pathways involved in psoriasis and IBD can overlap, which is why some medicines used for skin conditions carry specific guidance about gut symptoms.
What the new research looked at
Combining a psoriasis medicine with a weight loss medicine
Among the new data, researchers examined what happens when ixekizumab, which works by blocking a specific immune signal called interleukin-17A (IL-17A), is used together with tirzepatide, a weight loss medicine known as Zepbound. According to the company, six separate presentations cover this combination, drawn largely from a study called TOGETHER-PsO, which involved adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who also had obesity or were overweight with a related health condition.
What the researchers reported
The company said the research included an early, exploratory look at biological markers to better understand how psoriasis and weight-related health problems might be connected in the body. Other presentations reportedly looked at heart-related risk factors, cost considerations, and feedback from patients using both medicines in daily life. These findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, so the detail currently available is limited to conference summaries.
Why this matters for people with IBD
Ixekizumab’s prescribing information already notes that Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can start, or get worse, in some people taking the medicine. Patients are advised to tell their doctor about stomach pain, diarrhoea or unexplained weight loss while on treatment. This existing caution is a useful reminder for anyone with psoriasis and IBD, or a family history of IBD, that bowel symptoms should always be reported rather than assumed to be unrelated to a skin treatment.
The new data presented at the conference does not change this guidance. It instead adds further detail about how ixekizumab behaves when combined with a weight loss medicine, which may be relevant for the many people living with both psoriasis and excess weight.
What to keep in mind
These findings are still at an early, conference-presentation stage rather than final published research, so conclusions should be treated with some caution. The studies that looked at biological signals in blood or tissue do not directly measure symptoms, so they cannot confirm how a treatment will affect an individual person’s bowel health. Further research, including full publication of trial results, will be needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about using these two medicines together.
- Report new or worsening stomach pain, diarrhoea or unexplained weight loss to a doctor while taking ixekizumab
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine without speaking to a doctor first
- Ask a healthcare provider about individual risk if you have both psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease, or a family history of either
- Remember that conference presentations are early findings and may change once fully published
Reference
Krueger JG, et al. Uncovering the potential immunometabolic impact of tirzepatide added to ixekizumab in patients with psoriasis and overweight or obesity: biomarker insights from TOGETHER-PsO. Presented at: 2026 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference; 2026 Oct 8-11; Las Vegas, NV, USA.
This article is a journalistic summary for informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or a recommendation to alter treatment decisions.