Weight-Loss Drug Market Heats Up With Innovations

The weight-loss drug market is heating up with competition, as pharmaceutical leaders like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and others advance innovative therapies. Projected to reach US$150 billion by the early 2030s, this rapid-growing market underscores the industry's potential to address global health challenges and provide new treatment options for millions of patients worldwide.

Reuters reports that Novo Nordisk has emerged as a front-runner with its highly successful drug Wegovy and the promising new candidate, amycretin. In recent trials, amycretin achieved a 13.1% weight loss in obese patients after 12 weeks, surpassing previous results for the drug. The company plans to launch a mid-stage study for amycretin later this year, with results expected in early 2026. Additionally, Novo Nordisk reported positive late-stage trial data for a high-dose oral semaglutide, which resulted in a 15% weight loss in overweight or obese adults.

Similarly, Eli Lilly reported encouraging results from a mid-stage trial of its next-generation obesity drug, retatrutide, demonstrating weight loss of up to 24.2% after 48 weeks. 

Amgen, Altimmune, Viking Therapeutics, Zealand Pharma, Opko Health, and Structure Therapeutics are also making significant strides with their own weight-loss drug candidates, reporting substantial weight loss in mid-stage trials. Pfizer faced setbacks for its twice-daily oral drug, danuglipron, due to high rates of side effects such as nausea and vomiting. As a result, the company is now focusing on a modified once-daily release version, with data expected next year.