13 Jan 2024 was a record year for obesity trials and 2025 is already poised to take over
There are over 300 glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) drugs in an active stage of development as the astounding success of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1R obesity drug, Wegovy, has ignited a surge in innovator drug obesity trials. Companies are hoping to disrupt the space and loosen the stronghold that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lily, whose obesity drugs accounted for 99% of the $37.2bn GLP-1R sales in 2023, have on the market.
The popularity of GLP-1R drugs has catapulted the treatment landscape of obesity into the spotlight. Reformation for the management of this disease is long overdue considering obesity was only recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association in 2013, despite affecting around 74% of the US population, according to the National Institutes of Health. This reinforces the World Health Organization’s assessment of obesity as one of the most visible – yet most neglected – public health problems. However, the tide fortunately appears to be shifting thanks to the success of several high-profile GLP-1R drugs in recent years. Read more…