Following positive results from its SURMOUNT-5 trial, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) will surpass Novo Nordisk’s Weogvy (semaglutide) in the obesity treatment market, according to a GlobalData analyst.
GlobalData is the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena.
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Pointing to the results of Eli Lilly’s recent SURMOUNT-5 trial (NCT05822830), pharma analyst Costanza Alciati commented; “Eli Lilly’s drug is more potent, and perhaps negotiations with national health services will also make it more cost-effective than Wegovy. So, Zepbound is expected to take the lead in the obesity market if it hasn’t already done so.”
Based on SURMOUNT-5 results released last month, Zepbound was more effective in promoting weight loss. The trial demonstrated that Wegovy caused an average weight loss of 13.7% body weight, compared to 20.2% weight loss in patients using Zepbound.
Alciati added: “From the start, Zepbound emerged as the primary new competitor of Wegovy, and it seems that Eli Lilly has followed in some way Novo Nordisk’s strategy to increase [the] patient population through investigating the drug in multiple indications.”
Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide is also approved for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and those with cardiovascular risk factors, and is in development for several additional indications such as chronic kidney disease.
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By GlobalData“The impact of Wegovy on the obesity market has been huge. key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData defined it as ‘revolutionary’. Now with Zepbound, the revolution continues,” said Alciati.
Indeed, Novo Nordisk’s model is echoed by Eli Lilly’s, and tirzepatide is currently being investigated for additional indications, including chronic kidney disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), as well as for patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Last month, it received FDA approval for treating obstructive sleep apnoea.
Record-high sales made by Novo Nordisk in the obesity treatment space have prompted a wave of investment in the sector over the last few years. According to GlobalData’s Drugs Database, there are now more than 400 companies actively developing obesity drugs, from discovery to pre-registration candidates.
There is also significant demand in the area. GlobalData identified that obesity and overweight conditions were estimated to have caused a staggering $425.5bn in economic costs to businesses and employees in the US alone in 2023. It reported that, of the 158 million civilian employees on nonfarm payrolls, 30% (46.9 million) were classified as having obesity and 34% (53.8 million) had overweight in 2023.
