Competition in Obesity Drug Market Shifts Focus to Convenience and Multi-Action Treatments

The global obesity treatment market is undergoing rapid changes in its competitive landscape. The focus has shifted from merely achieving weight loss to factors such as ease of administration, maintenance therapy, and the ability to treat metabolic disorders simultaneously. With Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro already dominating the market, new entrants are seeking breakthroughs through differentiated formulations and mechanisms of action.

According to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry on June 21, the recent competition in obesity drug development has transitioned from "how much weight can be lost" to "how comfortably, safely, and sustainably can weight be managed." Given the nature of obesity treatment, which often requires long-term use, key competitive elements have emerged, including reduced dosing frequency, improved adherence to medication, and minimized muscle loss.

In response to this trend, domestic companies are accelerating the acquisition of differentiated technologies. Notable strategies include the development of multi-action drugs that regulate multiple hormones simultaneously and long-acting formulations that reduce the frequency of administration. These companies are also actively seeking opportunities for technology transfers and joint development with global pharmaceutical firms.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical has proposed a direction for obesity treatment that focuses on "increasing muscle while reducing fat." The company's candidate drug, HM500197, is based on a dual-action mechanism that reduces body fat while increasing muscle mass. This approach addresses the muscle loss issue identified in existing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class treatments. Additionally, the company is expanding its obesity treatment portfolio with drugs such as efpeglenatide, the triple-action drug HM15275, and HM17321.

Daewon Pharmaceutical is differentiating itself with the development of a quadruple-action drug, DW-4321, in collaboration with the U.S.-based Pharmos Biosciences. DW-4321 is a four-action drug that adds a gastrin receptor to GLP-1, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), and glucagon (GCG) receptors, reportedly showing about 50% greater weight loss effects in preclinical studies compared to existing triple-action drugs.

Innovations in formulation aimed at enhancing dosing convenience are also gaining momentum. Inventis Lab is developing a long-acting injectable formulation, IVL3021, based on semaglutide, which is designed for once-a-month administration. According to the company, this candidate maintains weight loss effects with just one monthly dose and has demonstrated superior weight loss efficacy compared to the Wegovy repeat dosing group.

Industry experts believe that the future competition in the obesity treatment market will hinge on the combination of multi-action drugs and long-acting formulations. There is an assessment that treatments are evolving into "integrated therapies for metabolic disorders" that manage not only weight loss but also coexisting conditions such as diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular diseases.

One industry insider noted, "While global big pharma has established a foothold in the market, there remains a clear unmet demand. Companies that succeed in differentiating their mechanisms and enhancing dosing convenience will find ample opportunities. Domestic firms also have the potential to expand their presence based on their technological capabilities."

Meanwhile, market research firm IQVIA predicts that the global obesity treatment market will grow to $200 billion (approximately 306 trillion won) by 2030.