The two leading obesity treatments, Mountjaro and Wegovy, have entered a new phase of competition as they expand dosage options and bolster clinical data. With the obesity treatment market transitioning from supply expansion to a focus on high-dose and high-efficacy products, growth in the sector is expected to accelerate.
According to industry sources, Korean pharmaceutical company Lilly will launch high-dose Mountjaro (12.5mg and 15mg) in the domestic market on June 10, completing its full lineup alongside the existing four dosage levels. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk has countered by presenting high-dose data for Wegovy at a global conference.
A representative from a global pharmaceutical company noted, "Initially, the competitive edge for both companies was prescription accessibility and supply volume, but now the key comparison point is the efficacy and safety of high-dose products." The focus has shifted to which drug can demonstrate greater weight loss effectiveness.
Specifically, Lilly's strategy involves adding 12.5mg and 15mg options for Mountjaro to enhance its tiered treatment offerings. Given the GLP-1 class's characteristic of starting at lower doses and gradually increasing, securing high-dose products will allow healthcare providers to prescribe more flexibly based on patient needs. Notably, higher doses may lead to greater weight loss, potentially meeting the demands of patients who prioritize weight reduction outcomes.
Novo Nordisk is responding by unveiling high-dose data for Wegovy. Recent data presented at the European Obesity Congress indicates that in the high-dose group receiving 7.2mg of Wegovy, 84% of the weight lost was fat, with visceral abdominal fat reduced by over 30%. In contrast, muscle function remained comparable to that of the placebo group.
Market analysts suggest that the competition between the two companies is narrowing down to how effectively they can demonstrate weight loss results across various dosages of their obesity treatments.
The growth trajectory of the market is further fueled by this competition. According to global healthcare research firm IQVIA, the global obesity treatment market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 30%, reaching $200 billion by 2030. Previous analyses by market research firms like Morgan Stanley estimated the market would reach an average of $98 billion by 2030. With the sales of GLP-1 treatments like Wegovy and Mountjaro accelerating, research institutions are now forecasting a market size that exceeds previous estimates by more than double.
The increasing attention on obesity treatments is also attributed to a shift in perception regarding the condition, which is now recognized as a precursor to various diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, and sleep apnea, highlighting the growing need for treatment.
Looking ahead, the competitive landscape is expected to shift from weight loss to the expansion of indications. Semaglutide has demonstrated clinical results in reducing major cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease, while tirzepatide has shown symptom improvement in patients with obesity-related heart failure. Additionally, in the U.S., tirzepatide has been approved for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
An industry insider remarked, "The potential for obesity drugs to evolve into a treatment platform for metabolic diseases is increasingly becoming a reality."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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