Global Race Accelerates for Smarter, Safer Obesity Treatments (Image courtesy of Getty Image Bank/CCL)
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The next wave of obesity treatments is expected to center on multi-action drugs and oral formulations, according to a new report by global pharmaceutical research firm IQVIA, as drugmakers race to overcome the limitations of current blockbusters such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro.
The two companies currently dominate the global obesity market, with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly controlling roughly 65 percent and 31 percent, respectively. Wegovy, launched in South Korea last October, became the market leader within its first quarter and has since surpassed 200 billion won ($144 million) in cumulative sales.
Despite their success, both drugs face significant challenges, including supply shortages, high prices, and concerns over muscle loss. IQVIA noted that supply constraints persisted between 2022 and 2024, while the cost of GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy still ranges from $500 to $1,000 a month.
To address these limitations, multi-action drugs that target multiple receptors simultaneously are gaining traction. IQVIA highlighted Boehringer Ingelheim’s survodutide and Altimmune’s pemvidutide — both of which target GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, potentially offering enhanced fat-burning and liver health benefits compared to single-action GLP-1 therapies.
Eli Lilly is also developing retatrutide, a triple agonist that stimulates GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors, a move that could further cement its dominance if successful.
Oral anti-obesity drugs are emerging as another potential “game changer.” Novo Nordisk’s high-dose oral semaglutide and Eli Lilly’s orforglipron have both produced encouraging Phase 3 trial results, while South Korea’s Ildong Pharmaceutical reported positive early data from its oral candidate ID110521156.
Preserving muscle mass remains another key goal. In clinical trials, pemvidutide led to only 21.9 percent muscle loss relative to total weight reduction, compared with 39–45 percent for semaglutide. South Korea’s Hanmi Pharmaceutical is also developing HM17321, a therapy designed to promote muscle growth while selectively reducing fat.
IQVIA noted that next-generation treatments will need to improve patient adherence, as current GLP-1 drugs have a one-year continuation rate of only 10–30 percent. The report emphasized the importance of region-specific clinical strategies and more accessible pricing to expand treatment adoption.
“While global pharmaceutical giants still dominate the obesity market, unmet needs remain high and innovation is accelerating,” IQVIA said. “That leaves significant opportunity for latecomers with differentiated technology and smarter delivery platforms.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
