Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ll know that anti-obesity GLP-1 drugs are the next big thing in pharma, with megablockbuster sales in a market that could be worth $126 billion by 2030 just on the horizon.
But innovation in pharma doesn’t stand still, and already, next-gen candidates are in late-stage testing hoping to take the next step, according to a new report by analysts at GlobalData.
Their USP? Rather than being injected, like all approved GLP-1 drugs currently are for obesity, these meds are taken by mouth in what could be a game changer for ease of use.
GlobalData explained in its report that: “This route of administration (injectable) is associated with negative attributes such as the requirement to attend a professional clinic, highlighting the appeal of oral alternatives, which offer convenience, lower development costs, and simpler marketing.”
The analysts highlighted several key meds seeking an oral route for their meds. This includes both Novo Nordisk and Lilly, which already have two major injectable obesity drug approvals, Wegovy and Zepbound.
They are both looking to boost their penetration in the market with oral drugs, with Novo “leading the pack,” according to GlobalData. That’s because it’s already created an oral form of GLP-1 in Rybelsus, its FDA-approved type 2 diabetes therapy.
This med is already in phase 3 testing for a label expansion that would include obesity while Novo is also working on an experimental phase 3 candidate, NN-9932, slated to be launched by the end of next year.
That drug “has the highest probability of success among all drugs in this category, with a 35% likelihood of approval,” according to Jasper Morley, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, writing in the report.
Lilly, meanwhile, is working on phase 3 hopeful orforglipron calcium, with a projected launch in 2026.
China-based Jiangsu Hengrui’s HRS-9531 is the last phase 3 contender, which works as a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist.
“With expected drug sales for GLP1Rs in obesity estimated to surpass $126 billion by 2030, this drug category presents a lucrative market for drug developers,” explained Morely.
“Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have already reaped substantial rewards in the injectable segment. However, the emergence of oral therapies is reshaping the landscape. With 63 active products in the pipeline, the race for the first approval is intensifying. Nevertheless, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are positioned at the forefront, striving to capitalize on their already successful GLP-1R portfolios and solidify their dominance in the GLP-1R market.”