Obesity now affects over 2.5 billion adults and nearly 400 million children and teens worldwide, making it a leading driver of preventable death and chronic disease. In response, biotech companies are accelerating the development of powerful next-generation weight loss drugs—and Novotech is helping lead the charge.
Novotech’s Expert Insight on Obesity Drug Innovation
Dr. Kathryn Stecco, Medical Monitor at Novotech, highlights the complexity of obesity’s underlying biology from genetic and hormonal imbalances to dysfunctional reward systems. Novotech, a leading global CRO, supports sponsors in navigating this complexity to bring safe, effective therapies to market faster. “The race is on to target new pathways genetic, metabolic, hormonal to improve outcomes and patient adherence,” explains Dr. Stecco. “It’s a move beyond traditional weight-loss paradigms.”
From GLP-1 Agonists to Triple Hormone Therapies
Breakthrough drugs like Wegovy (Novo Nordisk) and Zepbound (Eli Lilly) have shown double-digit percentage weight loss. Now, the focus has shifted to even more potent dual and triple hormone receptor agonists, with companies pursuing therapies that target GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon simultaneously.
Oral Pills and Beyond: The Next Frontier
Oral weight loss drugs, including Novo’s oral Wegovy and Lilly’s orforglipron, promise easier administration and wider access. Meanwhile, newer classes like amylin analogs, gut-targeted polymers (e.g., Glyscend’s GLY-200), and L-cell stimulators (e.g., Aphaia Pharma’s APHD-012) are expanding therapeutic possibilities.
A Crowded Market and a $105B Opportunity
With the global obesity drug market projected to hit $105 billion by 2030, companies are racing to deliver drugs with superior efficacy, safety, and accessibility. As the article highlights, Novotech’s scientific and operational expertise is helping biotech pioneers develop next-gen treatments that address both obesity and its comorbidities.
“This is a pivotal time,” says Stecco. “Therapies are evolving rapidly and patients need options that are effective, tolerable, and easy to use.”
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