GLP-1 Medications: A Market on the Rise

Key Takeaways:

The global GLP-1 receptor market is projected to grow from $53.46 billion in 2024 to $156.71 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 17.46%.
Originally designed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications are now widely prescribed for weight loss, cardiovascular issues, and other emerging conditions.
Key players in the market include Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Amgen, Viking Therapeutics, and Structure Therapeutics, with significant R&D investments.
North America represents the largest market share, while Asia-Pacific shows high growth potential. Over 60 companies are developing GLP-1 drugs.

A Therapeutic and Commercial Breakthrough

GLP-1 receptor agonists have progressed from niche diabetes treatments into focal point blockbuster medications with far-reaching implications across healthcare and industry. Initially approved in 2005 with Exenatide (Byetta), these drugs were designed to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Today, they’re widely prescribed for weight loss, cardiovascular risk reduction, and emerging indications such as sleep apnea, PCOS, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Their dual efficacy in controlling blood sugar and encouraging weight loss has made them a cornerstone of modern metabolic care.

The global GLP-1 receptor market was valued at $53.46 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $156.71 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 17.46%. UBS forecasts that 40 million people will be on GLP-1s by 2029, with 44% of U.S. users translating into $126 billion in sales. This popularity is transforming the pharmaceutical landscape and driving innovation in adjacent sectors such as medical devices, wellness tech, and digital health, which has led to an influx of investment by companies looking to capitalize on this rising trend.

What are GLP-1 medications?

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to food consumption. This hormone is crucial in promoting weight reduction, delaying gastric emptying, and enhancing feelings of satiety by stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon release. GLP-1 receptor agonists emulate this hormone's effects by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing HbA1c levels, making them particularly beneficial for individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

These pharmacological agents demonstrate efficacy by simultaneously targeting multiple metabolic pathways. Recent clinical studies have also indicated improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, renal function, and potential neuroprotective benefits associated with their use.

Who are the market leaders?

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk remains a leading innovator in the development of GLP-1 treatments. Wegovy and Ozempic continue to dominate prescription volume, but the company faces increasing competition and pricing pressure. In response, Novo Nordisk is advancing several next-generation candidates:

Oral Wegovy is expected to receive FDA review by late 2025, potentially becoming the first oral GLP-1 approved for weight management.
Amycretin, a dual GLP-1/amylin agonist, has entered Phase 3 trials and may offer improved efficacy over current options.

Eli Lilly

As of Q2 2025, Eli Lilly holds approximately 57% of the GLP-1 market, overtaking Novo Nordisk earlier this year. With up to 24% weight loss in Phase 2 trials, its triple agonist Retatrutide qualifies as one of the most hopeful candidates in development. Additional highlights include:

Orforglipron, an oral GLP-1, achieved 12.4% weight loss in Phase 3 trials, offering a compelling alternative to injectable therapies.
Eli Lilly is preparing for global launches and regulatory submissions, supported by significant manufacturing scale-up.

Amgen

Amgen’s MariTide (formerly AMG133) is a GLP-1 agonist and GIPR antagonist with the potential for monthly dosing, a significant convenience advantage. Phase 2 trials showed up to 20% weight loss sustained over 52 weeks. Phase 3 trials are now underway, with expanded indications including cardiovascular and sleep-related comorbidities.

Notable GLP-1 drugs include:

Company	Key Products/Developments
Novo Nordisk	Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda; advancing oral Wegovy & amycretin; over $2.3B R&D Investment
Eli Lilly	Mounjaro, Zepbound, Retatrutide (triple agonist), Orforglipron (oral GLP-1)
Pfizer	Danuglipron (oral GLP-1 in Phase 2b trials) – development discontinued due to safety concerns.
Amgen	MariTide (formerly AMG133) - dual agonist with monthly dosing, entering Phase 3
Viking Therapeutics	VK2735 (GLP-1/GIP dual agonist) – Phase 3 (injectable) and Phase 2 (oral) ongoing
Structure Therapeutics	GSBR-1290 - oral GLP-1 agonist in Phase 2b trials

Market Size and Growth

With 77.72% of worldwide sales in 2024, North America remains the primary market for GLP-1 drugs. However, the Asia-Pacific region is growing fast, with a projected CAGR of 14.6% through 2035. Europe also sees increased adoption, particularly in countries with well-developed healthcare infrastructure and reimbursement models.

The market is highly competitive, with over 60 companies developing GLP-1 drugs and more than 135 candidates in clinical trials. This intense innovation drives down costs, improves formulations, and expands the range of indications. In Deloitte’s 2025 Measuring the return from pharmaceutical innovation report, GLP-1s have contributed significantly to the sector's forecast internal rate of return (IRR). Their analysis shows that excluding GLP-1 assets from the model would reduce the average IRR from 5.9% to just 3.8%, highlighting their outsized impact on industry performance.

What’s driving demand for GLP-1 drugs?

1. Weight Loss Efficacy

GLP-1s are among the most effective non-surgical weight loss treatments available. While bariatric operations decreased by 42% from 2019 to 2024, a HealthVerity study revealed that GLP-1 prescriptions among adults aged 18–39 had grown by 588%. This change mirrors a growing preference for pharmacological solutions over invasive procedures.

2. Obesity and Diabetes Prevalence

Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults meet the clinical criteria for obesity, and roughly 589 million people globally have diabetes – over 90% of whom have type 2. These conditions are interlinked and contribute to a host of comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, depression, and dementia. GLP-1s offer a multifaceted approach to managing these risks.

3. Impact On Other Therapeutic Areas

Beyond weight loss and glycemic control, GLP-1s have demonstrated benefits in:

Reducing cardiovascular risk
Improving kidney function
Treating sleep apnea, PCOS, and NAFLD
Potential applications in Alzheimer’s and addiction treatment

4. Improved Accessibility

GLP-1 drugs are becoming dramatically more accessible, not just in terms of cost, but in how and where patients can engage with them. Insurance coverage is expanding as payers recognize the long-term savings from treating obesity-related conditions early, and prescribing is shifting from endocrinologists to general practitioners and telehealth platforms, making these therapies easier to obtain. Additionally, the developments of non-injectable delivery and oral formulations are entering late-stage trials, promising once-daily oral dosing with comparable efficacy to injectables.

What’s their impact on the pharma supply chain?

The growth of the GLP-1 sector is putting pressure on the pharmaceutical supply chain, prompting industry-wide shifts in manufacturing, logistics, and sourcing. Injectable GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro require specialized fill-finish capabilities and cold chain infrastructure. According to McKinsey, the demand for GLP-1 autoinjectors will create a substantial market for device technologies, primary containment components, and raw materials by 2028. This has led contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to expand their capabilities aggressively, often through mergers and acquisitions, to meet the growing need for sterile fill-finish services.

As oral GLP-1s enter late-stage development, supply chains must adapt again. Oral formulations promise broader accessibility but require entirely different production and packaging workflows. This dual-channel demand, injectables and orals, will challenge pharma companies to build more agile, scalable operations.

Peptide synthesis and excipient sourcing are under strain upstream, while downstream logistics providers invest in temperature-controlled transport and real-time tracking to maintain product integrity. PwC notes that this macro-level shift opens opportunities for adjacent industries, from medical devices to wellness tech.

What are the challenges?

Affordability and cost: Although insurance coverage is expanding, GLP-1s are still pricey. The cost causes many patients to stop taking their medicine, particularly in areas without strong reimbursement policies. Eli Lilly has announced a price increase for Mounjaro in the UK, raising the highest dose from £122 to £330 per month. NHS patients remain unaffected, but private users face significant hikes. Although the new rate remains below the cost level in the US, of $1,000, US users are concerned that theirs might also rise. This shift could influence prescribing patterns and boost demand for alternative GLP-1 therapies like Wegovy, especially among budget-conscious patients.
Long-term safety: While well-documented short-term advantages exist, more research is needed on long-term side effects, especially in non-diabetic groups. Possible dangers include pancreatitis, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal issues.
Supply chain strain: Manufacturers are finding it challenging to satisfy demand, therefore increasing supply chain stress. Particularly for Wegovy, supply shortages will persist into 2025, thus presenting rivals with chances to grab market share.
Ethical and social issues: GLP-1s for cosmetic weight reduction raise ethical questions. With prescriptions fairly simple to obtain in the United States for non-diabetics, misuse without medical supervision is an escalating problem.

Redbock’s Role in the GLP-1 Market

The growing GLP-1 market highlights the need for specialized expertise and regulatory precision. Redbock, a leading life science consulting and resourcing company, is well-equipped to support organizations in this field. As GLP-1 innovations expand into new therapeutic areas and formats, partnering with Redbock for your clinical trial support, pharmacovigilance, and device engineering resourcing needs can drive your success.

If your organization is exploring opportunities in the GLP-1 space, Redbock is ready to help you build the right team. Contact us today to learn more about our resourcing solutions.