The European respiratory journalOct 11, 2026

GLP-1 Treatments for Lung Diseases

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Oct 12, 2026

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) may have therapeutic relevance in chronic lung diseases.

GLP-1 RAs are associated with cardiovascular, renal, and anti-inflammatory benefits beyond their initial use for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Chronic lung diseases share inflammatory, vascular, and fibrotic pathways that could be influenced by GLP-1 RA therapies.
Preclinical studies indicate that GLP-1 receptor signaling affects airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular function.
Observational and early clinical data suggest potential improvements in asthma control and reduced exacerbations in COPD.
There are indications of vascular remodeling benefits in pulmonary hypertension and a decrease in all-cause mortality in interstitial lung disease.
High-quality randomized controlled trials of GLP-1 RAs in lung disease populations are still needed to confirm these findings.

Simplified

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), initially developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, are increasingly recognised as multi-system agents with cardiovascular, renal and anti-inflammatory benefits. Emerging evidence suggests that their pleiotropic metabolic and immunomodulatory effects may have therapeutic relevance in chronic lung diseases. The lung is a metabolically active organ in which obesity, insulin resistance and systemic inflammation contribute to disease susceptibility, progression and treatment response. Chronic lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease share overlapping inflammatory, vascular and fibrotic pathways that may be modifiable through GLP-1 RA-based therapies. Preclinical studies demonstrate that GLP-1R signalling influences airway inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial function and fibroblast activation. Observational and early clinical data suggest potential benefits in asthma control, exacerbation reduction in COPD, vascular remodelling in pulmonary hypertension and a reduction in all-cause mortality in interstitial lung disease. In addition to weight loss and glycaemic improvement, GLP-1 RAs exert direct anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory effects that may act independently of metabolic change. Despite promising mechanistic and translational signals, high-quality randomised controlled trials with GLP-1 RAs in pulmonary populations remain limited. Key questions include patient selection, interaction with established anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic therapies, and the relative contribution of metabolic versus direct pulmonary effects. This review aims to synthesise current mechanistic, experimental and clinical evidence supporting GLP-1 RA use in chronic lung disease and outlines future research priorities within a precision-medicine framework.

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GLP-1 Treatments for Lung Diseases

Abstract

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