Top Anti-Obesity Drugs in Development to Watch for in 2025
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Published: December 2024
Owing to the increased prevalence rate of obesity and and need for effective drug products, several researchers and industry stakeholders are increasingly shifting their focus towards the development of anti-obesity drugs.
We analyzed around 225 anti-obesity drugs marketed / currently under investigation, developed by more than 120 drug developers engaged in this domain. In this article, discover four top anti-obesity drugs in development along with the information on associated drug developers engaged in the industry
Obesity is a chronic disease in which the accumulation of excessive fat occurs in the body, thereby posing significant health risks to patients. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is the fifth leading cause of death, globally. Owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and growing awareness among individuals towards the associated health risks, the need for safe and effective anti-obesity drugs has surged. In order to curb this growing concern, various medications are either currently being investigated in clinical trials or commercialized for this indication. Such anti-obesity drugs / weight loss drugs aim to help individuals in managing obesity by targeting appetite regulation, fat absorption and metabolism.
Anti-obesity drugs also play a crucial role in prevention of diseases associated with obesity including, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Notably, in the recent years, several novel anti-obesity drugs have received regulatory approval, broadening the options available for patients and providing effective alternatives to bariatric surgery. It is important to highlight that these weight loss drugs enhance quality of life by boosting the confidence of an individual and having a positive effect on one’s mental health. Further, recent advancements in drug formulation and delivery systems along with the rise of telehealth services and digital therapeutics applications, are improving patient engagement and adherence to the treatment plans.
Roots Analysis has conducted an exhaustive study on Anti-obesity Drugs Market featuring the current anti-obesity drugs market landscape and future opportunity for the drug developers that are engaged in the anti-obesity drugs industry, over a span of 10 years.
Table of Contents
The top four anti-obesity drugs in development along with the information on the developer, active compound and status of development are listed below (in alphabetical order of drug name):
Table 1: List of Four Anti-obesity Drugs in Development to Watch for in 2025
| Drug Name | Developer Name | Active Compound | Status of Development |
| CagriSema | Novo Nordisk | Semaglutide, Cagrilintide | Phase III |
| Danuglipron (PF-06882961) | Pfizer Inc. | Danuglipron | Phase II |
| ECC5004 | AstraZeneca | – | Phase II |
| Orforglipron (LY3502970) | Eli Lilly | Orforglipron | Phase III |
Interested in exploring ~225 marketed and clinical stage anti-obesity drugs and the recent initiatives taken by associated drug developers?
Discover Below the Details on Top Four Anti-obesity Drugs in Development
Let us deep dive to understand the activity of the four top anti-obesity drugs in development (based on general understanding) in the anti-obesity drugs market. It is essential to note that the selection of top drugs can differ substantially according to the defined criteria.
With an Average Weight Loss of 15.6% in Phase II Clinical Trials, CagriSema Claims to be at the Forefront for Managing Obesity
1. CagriSema
CagriSema is an innovative medicine developed by combining two active ingredients cagrilintide and semaglutide. It is a peptide-based drug and works by targeting different pathways involved in glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. Cagrilintide acts as an amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist, while semaglutide functions as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Interestingly, this drug can be administered via once a week subcutaneous injection and is currently being investigated in clinical trials for the management of type 3 diabetes and obesity.
Drug Developer Details:
Novo Nordisk is focused on developing and manufacturing innovative treatments for diabetes and obesity. The company has a strong emphasis on GLP-1 drugs, that are highly effective in managing type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss. It is worth noting that the company has research and development centers located in China, Denmark, India, UK and the US. It’s strong focus on innovation and patient-centric approach aims to address the complex challenges inherent in the healthcare industry. Notably, the company has adopted an innovative environmental strategy involving the development of products that can be recycled / reused, striving to reduce waste and have zero environmental impact.
Novo Nordisk: Company Details
| Key Parameters | Description |
| Company Logo |  |
| Year of Establisment | 1923 |
| Number of Employees | 10,001+ |
| Headquarters |  |
Clinical and Regulatory Milestones:
Results from Phase III REDEFINE 1 trial were expected in Q4 2024, while results from another phase III trial REDEFINE 2 are expected in H1 2025. REDEFINE 1 has enrolled 3,400 participants with weight loss as the primary endpoint. REDEFINE 2 has enrolled 1,200 obese patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition to obesity, the drug is also being tested in phase III clinical trial in Type 2 diabetes patients. According to a November 2024 press release by Reuters, Ypsomed will be supplying injection pens for delivery of CagriSema, when commercialized.
To know more about CagriSema and other anti-obesity drugs in development, access our full report.
Danuglipron, an Oral GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, Primarily being Developed for the Treatment of Obesity
2. Danuglipron (PF-06882961)
Danuglipron (PF-06882961) is currently being investigated for the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. It works by mimicking the action of GLP-1, which is a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release and delays gastric emptying. It is important to note that recently, the company announced dose optimization studies for danuglipron with the focus on once daily administration of dose, thereby targeting enhanced weight loss.
Drug Developer Details
Pfizer Inc. is a multi-national company that develops and commercializes innovative drugs and vaccines targeting a wide range of therapeutic areas, including immunological disorders, rare diseases and oncological disorders and obesity. It focuses on translating scientific advancements into impactful therapeutics for both established and emerging research areas. It is worth mentioning that Pfizer Inc. is at the forefront of developing drugs for the treatment of obesity, having a pipeline consisting of two clinical-stage candidates and several other pre-clinical candidates.
Pfizer Inc.: Company Details
| Key Parameters | Description |
| Company Logo |  |
| Year of Establisment | 1849 |
| Number of Employees | 10,001+ |
| Headquarters |  |
Clinical and Regulatory Milestones:
Pfizer announced the results for phase 2b clinical trials for Danuglipron, stating a significant reduction in body weight through a twice-daily dosing regimen for all dose concentrations. Further, the adverse effects reported during the trial were only mild and gastrointestinal in nature. Earlier, a phase 2a trial was also conducted for this drug in two patient populations. In both the populations, Danuglipron reported a decline in weight with a consistent safety and tolerability profile.3 Moreover, the company was also planning to conduct a dose optimization trial for once-daily formulation of the drug in second half of 2024.4
To know more about Danuglipron (PF-06882961) and other anti-obesity drugs in development, access our full report.
ECC5004, a Small Molecule Transforming the Management of Diabetes and Obesity via Oral Administration
3. ECC5004
ECC5004 is a small molecule, currently being investigated for oral administration in case of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Presently, the drug is in Phase II of clinical trials targeting larger populations having at least one weight-related comorbidity. Further, it is important to note that AstraZeneca acquired the global rights for development and commercialization of ECC5004 from Eccogene in November 2023, paying an amount of USD 185 million as an upfront payment.
Drug Developer Details
AstraZeneca was established in 1999 as a result of the merger between Astra and the Zeneca Group. The company is involved in the development and commercialization of prescription drugs, particularly operating across three segments, namely biopharmaceuticals, rare diseases and oncology. Within the biopharmaceutical segment, the company focuses on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, respiratory and immunology. It is worth highlighting that 90% of the drugs developed by the company are intended for the treatment of oncological indications. Further, the company also focuses on the development of GLP-1 drugs for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
AstraZeneca: Company Details
| Key Parameters | Description |
| Company Logo |  |
| Year of Establisment | 1999 |
| Number of Employees | 10,001+ |
| Headquarters |  |
Clinical and Regulatory Milestones:
In January 2024, the company participated in the 42nd JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, held in California, US and presented data on Oral GLP-1RA in obesity and type-2 diabetes, namely AZD9550 and ECC5004. In phase 1 clinical trials ECC5004 was well tolerated in patients with no serious adverse effects along with significant dose-dependent reduction in glucose and body weight were observed, when compared with the placebo.5
To know more about ECC5004 and other anti-obesity drugs in development, access our full report.
Orforglipron, the Next Generation GLP-1 Therapy for Sustainable Weight Loss
4. Orforglipron (LY3502970)
Orforglipron, a phase III investigational drug, currently being studied in two series of trials. The first is ATTAIN series which is focused on the management of obesity and the second is ACHIEVE series which targets type 2 diabetes. It is a GLP-1 receptor activator which can be administered once daily as a monotherapy. Further, it is important to note that Orforglipron was initially discovered by Chugai Pharmaceuticals, however, in September 2018, the worldwide rights for its development and commercialization were given to Eli Lilly, including an upfront payment of USD 50 million.
Drug Developer Details
Eli Lilly focuses on the discovery and development of innovative medicines that enhance the lives of people across the globe. The product portfolio of the company primarily includes anti-diabetic drugs, insulin / diabetes drug delivery devices and therapies for managing chronic conditions, including hemophilia, growth disorders, and obesity. With a presence in over 120 countries, Eli Lilly markets its products globally, leveraging its extensive research and development capabilities across multiple countries. It is worth mentioning that the company operates R&D centers in China, Denmark, India, the UK and the US, and has conducted clinical research in more than 55 countries.
Eli Lilly: Company Details
| Key Parameters | Description |
| Company Logo |  |
| Year of Establisment | 1876 |
| Number of Employees | 10,001+ |
| Headquarters |  |
Clinical and Regulatory Milestones:
Orforglipron is being investigated in the ATTAIN phase 3 clinical trials for weight management and in ACHIEVE phase 3 clinical trials for the management of type 2 diabetes. Further, the results from ATTAIN-J trial with the primary objective to study mean percent change in body weight are expected to arrive in July 2025. It is important to mention that in phase 2 trials Orforglipron demonstrated 14.7% reduction in weight from the base line.6, 7
To know more about Orforglipron (LY3502970) and other anti-obesity drugs in development, access our full report.
What About Other Anti-obesity Drugs in Development?
The above presentation features top four anti-obesity drugs in development from a pool of around 225 drugs that we have compiled. If you're interested, you can download the Sample Report on this topic by Roots Analysis. For personalized assistance in identifying the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at sales@rootsanalysis.com.
Sources
- https://www.novonordisk.com/content/dam/nncorp/global/en/investors/pdfs/financial-results/2024/q3-2024-investor-presentation.pdf
- https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/ypsomed-will-make-injection-pens-novo-nordisks-cagrisema-says-source-2024-11-22/
- https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-announces-topline-phase-2b-results-oral-glp-1r
- https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-advances-development-once-daily-formulation-oral-glp
- https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2023/agreement-with-eccogene-for-clinical-stage-glp-1ra.html
- https://investor.lilly.com/static-files/cdedba2e-c4a7-4047-9e61-4ac3b1e2cd73
- https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-phase-2-results-published-new-england-journal-medicine