The weight loss drug market, long dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, is on the brink of a significant shake-up as a new contender emerges.
Amgen, a prominent player in the pharmaceutical industry, is leading a group of drugmakers vying to enter this lucrative market with its experimental obesity injection, MariTide.
This injection, taken less frequently than competitors’ offerings and potentially offering longer-lasting weight loss, presents a formidable challenge to the established leaders.
Analysts are optimistic about Amgen’s prospects, noting the company’s substantial manufacturing capacity and the promising results from MariTide’s mid-stage study. However, Amgen is not the only company poised to disrupt the market.
Several other companies, including Viking Therapeutics, Altimmune, Structure Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, and partners Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma, are making strides in developing their own weight loss treatments.
Even Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are not resting on their laurels; actively working on new drugs for weight loss and diabetes.
Despite the intensifying competition, demand for existing drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound remains strong. This sustained demand, coupled with the projected growth of the weight loss market to $100 billion by the end of the decade, creates ample opportunities for new entrants.
Nonetheless, its potential for less frequent dosing and fewer side effects makes it a promising candidate. Other companies are also making strides with their weight loss treatments.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are advancing with new drugs, while AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and smaller biotechs like Viking Therapeutics, Altimmune, and Structure Therapeutics are also making notable progress.
With the weight loss market poised for disruption, investors are closely watching developments in this space. As companies race to bring their products to market, the space of weight loss treatments is set to undergo significant transformation in the coming years.
