Three-part, in-depth analysis of biopharma investments in obesity medications highlights potential impact on patient population historically faced with limited options

LONDON, Oct. 24, 2023 -- BioWorld™ published by Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their world, examines the impact of emerging obesity medicines in a new three-part series, The Rise of Obesity. The special coverage offers in-depth analysis of how the anticipated multibillion-dollar market potential for obesity medications in the coming years will impact biopharma, insurance companies and a patient population in need of safer options.

The increasing prevalence of obesity across the world is driving interest among investors to be a part of a movement that is poised to change the health care paradigm. Emerging medicines including glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and drugs with other mechanisms of action are increasingly shown to have benefits beyond weight loss.

Over $1 billion of investment is anticipated in obesity through licensing or M&As in 2023,¹ with the overall market expected to climb upwards of $50 billion in the coming years. The result of such growth could include significant savings in treating obese and overweight conditions, as well as the comorbidities associated with them. Novo Nordisk recently reported sales of Wegovy totalling $1.7 billion for the first half of 2023, up 367% over the prior year.² Sales of Ozempic, a lower-dose version of semaglutide, are up 58% year over year.³ The significant rise in sales reinforces the meteoric rise of obesity drugs - profits of which can help drive drug development to further benefit patients and business stakeholders alike.

Karen Carey, BioWorld Managing Editor and Senior Analyst, explores the challenges and the opportunity of advancing obesity medications, in three in-depth features, including:

• With high societal costs, a burgeoning market size, developers seek reimbursement for weight-loss meds
  
  The multibillion-dollar market potential for obesity medications that analysts expect in the next decade signifies change is coming for a patient population historically plagued with unsafe options and generally dismissed by investors and insurers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Development, investments, partnerships climb, but safety is key
  
  The ability of obesity medications to impact co-morbidities, reducing the symptoms and costs associated with down-the-road disease, has attracted significant attention throughout the biopharma industry.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Biopharmas focus on glucagon, amylin and other targets beyond GLP-1s
  
  Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists have brought significant weight loss to patients, catching the attention of investors, but drug developers are continually seeking new therapies with different mechanisms to enhance the effects and improve the tolerability.

Lynn Yoffee, Publisher, BioWorld, said: "Drug-induced weight loss has finally matured into a viable therapeutic option. But the reality of drug development is not just proof that they work. There must be a way to bring expensive drugs to patient populations, which is why BioWorld examined drugmakers' efforts to obtain reimbursement – tantamount to treating most patients – and the behind-the-scenes dealmaking and investments to broaden access. The BioWorld special report highlights the vast new market for drugs for obesity that will have major impacts on overall health since reducing weight is associated with reducing co-morbidities and costs associated with down-the-road diseases."

For more exclusive in-depth coverage of obesity and metabolic health on BioWorld, visit here.

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With writers and editors stationed around the globe, BioWorld published by Clarivate, reports the breaking news - and provides key perspective on hundreds of therapeutics and devices in development, the companies behind those candidates, the business development transactions that evolve the markets, and the regulatory hurdles that both challenge and guard the processes. BioWorld has a long tradition of excellence in journalism. Collectively, the news services have been honored with 61 awards dating back to 1998.

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Media contact:

Catherine Daniel

Director External Communications, Life Sciences & Healthcare

newsroom@clarivate.com