Obesity Drugs Reshape Global Health, Policy

The global healthcare landscape is undergoing a structural transformation driven by the explosive growth of obesity treatments, rapid scientific advances, and new public-policy frameworks that aim to standardize medical care. Pharmaceutical companies, investors, and health authorities are converging on a common reality: obesity and metabolic diseases now sit at the center of financial, clinical, and policy agendas.

In 2025, Eli Lilly became the first pharmaceutical company in history to reach a US$1 trillion market valuation, joining a club historically dominated by technology firms. This milestone underscores the increasing economic weight of the obesity-drug market, a sector projected to expand sharply through 2030.

Lilly’s surge has been fueled by unprecedented demand for GLP-1–based obesity medicines such as Zepbound (tirzepatide) and anticipation around its oral obesity candidate, orforglipron, expected to gain regulatory approval early next year. As one of the first small-molecule oral GLP-1 therapies, orforglipron offers significant advantages in manufacturing and scalability, opening access to broader populations. “The company is exploring alternative methods of administering GLP-1 medications beyond injectables, with the goal of achieving scalable production to reach a wider population,” said Karla Alcázar, President and General Manager, Lilly Latin America, during Mexico Health Summit 2025.

Mexico is a strategic market in this expansion. According to Alcázar, Mexico and Brazil account for 80% of Lilly’s Latin America business, with the company targeting double-digit growth and two innovative product launches per year. In some therapeutic areas, Mexico already ranks in Lilly’s global Top 10.

Investor Momentum and Intensifying Market Competition

Pharmaceutical stocks tied to obesity treatments have become some of the most attractive assets of 2025. According to Monex and Banamex analysts, cited by El Cronista, companies such as CVS Health, HCA Healthcare, and Johnson & Johnson have outpaced broader market performance, while Lilly and Amgen also posted strong gains.

The sector has been reshaped not only by innovation but also by political and regulatory shifts. In the United States, President Trump’s second administration implemented new pricing and vaccine rules, influencing investor behavior globally. Meanwhile, competition between top drugmakers continues to accelerate: Pfizer and Novo Nordisk recently escalated a dispute over the acquisition of Metsera, a company specializing in cardiometabolic pipelines.

WHO Issues First GLP-1 Guideline for Obesity

In a defining policy moment, the World Health Organization released its first-ever guideline on GLP-1 therapies for obesity. With obesity affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide and linked to 3.7 million deaths in 2024, WHO now issues conditional recommendations supporting GLP-1 use for long-term treatment in adults, combined with structured diet and physical activity programs.

The organization warns, however, that global preparedness remains limited. Even with increased production, fewer than 10% of eligible patients may have access to GLP-1 therapies by 2030. WHO encourages tiered pricing, pooled procurement, and licensing strategies to avoid deepening health inequities.

Mexico Moves Toward Standardized, Integrated Care through PRONAM

As innovation accelerates, Mexico is working to ensure its application is equitable. The Ministry of Health launched the National Strategy for the Integration of National Medical Care Protocols (PRONAM) to standardize clinical practices across institutions such as IMSS, ISSSTE, IMSS-Bienestar, PEMEX, SEDENA, and SEMAR.

The first 10 protocols address high-burden conditions including Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity and overweight, hypertension, pediatric cancers, and vaccination across the lifespan. Together, these issues cover 80% of Mexico’s disease burden. Alejandro Svarch, Director, IMSS-Bienestar, says that unified clinical criteria will help manage diverse epidemiological conditions without erasing cultural differences.

Yet challenges remain. Out-of-pocket spending in Mexico rose 41.4% between 2018 and 2024, more than double the OECD average, complicating equitable access to advanced therapies.

A New Health Era Defined by Obesity Care, Innovation, and Policy Convergence

Taken together, these developments signal a historic shift. From trillion-dollar pharmaceutical valuations to Mexico’s PRONAM strategy, health systems worldwide are restructuring in response to intertwined challenges: obesity, chronic disease, scientific acceleration, and sustainability.

The next decade will test whether innovation can be deployed at scale, equitably and sustainably, and whether regulatory systems can keep pace with the therapies reshaping global health.