Wegovy by Novo Nordisk and Zepbound by Eli Lilly currently dominate the weight-loss drug market and are expected to remain the top choices in a market projected to reach a value of 150 billion by the early 2030s.
However, numerous other pharmaceutical companies are looking to capitalize on the trend well. Below are the names of publicly traded companies that are focused on pursuing the next major breakthrough in the industry:
NOVO NORDISK
In a recent study, amycretin, the newest drug from Novo, resulted in a weight loss of 13.1% among obese individuals following a 12-week treatment period. This outcome stands in contrast to the 6% weight loss observed in a trial for Wegovy over the same duration.
Novo has announced its intention to initiate a Phase II clinical trial for amycretin in the latter part of this year, with the expectation of receiving findings by the beginning of 2026.
In August, Novo Nordisk released findings from a major clinical trial, revealing that Wegovy also demonstrated a significant advantage in reducing cardiovascular risks. Notably, Wegovy shares the same active compound as Novo’s diabetes medication Ozempic, and received approval in 2021.
In June, the pharmaceutical company released results from advanced testing of a strong oral form of its medication, semaglutide. The data showed that overweight or individuals were able to achieve a weight loss of 15 which was consistent with findings from new obesity medications.
In a deal valued at $11 billion, the company announced in February that it will acquire three manufacturing facilities from Novo Holdings, once Novo’s purchase of Catalent is finalized. The sites, located in Anagni, Italy, Brussels, Belgium, and Bloomington, Indiana, will enhance the company’s capacity to produce Wegovy, a key product in its portfolio.
ELI LILLY
Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss treatment, Zepbound, was approved by regulators in the United States and the United in November. This approval the stage for a strong competitor to Novo’s Wegovy.
In December, the company disclosed that Zepbound generated sales of $175.8 million in its initial weeks on the market. This medication, also called tirzepatide, was previously marketed as Mounjaro for managing type 2 diabetes starting in 2022 and was commonly used for weight loss purposes despite not being officially approved for that use.
In June, Lilly reported that a mid-stage study of its new obesity medication, retatrutide, which is given as a weekly injection, resulted in weight loss of as much as 24.2% over a period of 48 weeks.
PFIZER
In a December announcement, Pfizer revealed it would be halting additional testing of a twice-daily formulation of its oral medication, danuglipron, intended to aid in weight reduction.
Following a mid-stage trial marked by a high patient dropout rate due to severe nausea and vomiting, the decision has been made to reassess the treatment’s viability.
The organization has shifted its attention to a new, sustained-release formulation of danuglipron, designed to be taken just once a day. Results detailing how this revised formula behaves within the body are anticipated to be revealed in the coming year.
In June, Pfizer decided to halt the progress of its daily pill because of worries about potential liver risks.
ROCHE AND CARMOT THERAPEUTICS
As a result of its $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics, Roche gained control of CT-388. This weekly injectable medication falls under the same category as Mounjaro, also known as Zepbound, which is produced by Eli Lilly.
Roche announced that the recently obtained experimental drug has successfully finished initial testing and is prepared for further evaluation on human participants in the second phase of clinical trials.
AMGEN
During a 12-week clinical trial, Amgen’s innovative obesity medication, AMG133, achieved an average weight reduction of 14.5% among participants receiving the maximum monthly dosage, as revealed in November.
ALTIMMUNE
In November, Altimmune announced that their drug pemvidutide demonstrated an average weight reduction of 15.6% and sustained weight loss at the completion of a mid-stage trial.
Additionally, some individuals reported mild to moderate cases of stomach upset, including queasiness and vomiting.
VIKING THERAPEUTICS
In February, Viking Therapeutics announced that their new medication, VK2735, resulted in notable weight loss for obese patients during a mid-phase trial.
Data from the study showed that VK2735 assisted 176 overweight adults with at least one weight-related comorbidity in average weight loss of up to 14.7% after 13 weeks of treatment.
