Beyond GLP-1s: Companies eye new obesity drug mechanisms as efficacy plateaus

The obesity drug market continues to expand, with GLP-1 therapies growing from about $5.5 billion in 2023 to over $55 billion projected for 2033. These agents are used for weight loss, diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Despite that growth, clinicians report that many patients hit efficacy plateaus, experience muscle loss, and often regain weight after initial loss, highlighting limits of current GLP-1s.

To address these gaps, companies are exploring alternative mechanisms and multitarget designs in preclinical models, aiming to improve durability of weight loss and mitigate side effects.

GemPharmatech’s senior scientific director Dr. Shuxin Xu said the unmet medical need drives investment in new metabolic-disease model platforms, and she expects next-generation obesity drugs to emerge from these efforts.