How to Capture Opportunity in the Fast-Growing GLP-1 Market

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of obesity medications over the past several years. This class of drugs, which includes Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, is known as GLP-1 agonists and helps patients lose weight and get their diabetes under control. The consumer demand for these medicines is high and is only expected to grow. According to a recent Global Data report, the market for obesity drugs is predicted to reach $37.1 billion in 2031.¹ 

The Impact of Obesity

The public health impacts of obesity illustrate why GLP-1 agonists are such an important focus in the pharmaceutical industry. There are currently two billion adults, or approximately 30% of the world population, who are overweight or obese.²

In the United States alone, obesity accounts for 47% of the total cost of chronic disease treatment. It costs the US economy over 1.7 trillion dollars annually, with $480.7 billion in direct health-care costs and $1.24 trillion in lost productivity from obese individuals each year.³

Considering obesity’s dramatic health impact, it is not surprising that interest in developing obesity drugs and investigating the mechanism of action and other indications for the drugs is front and center for sponsors of all sizes.

Here are some current trends in the race to capture a piece of the GLP-1 market:

A Move Toward Accessibility

Currently, many of the drugs targeting obesity medications are delivered subcutaneously, requiring patients to inject a liquid medication with a needle and syringe. Numerous Phase 2 and 3 studies are testing the efficacy of oral dosing, with the goal of increasing accessibility. A recent KFF poll found that 68% of adults who are trying to lose 20 pounds or more would be interested in taking a prescription weight loss drug if they were safe.⁴ 

Global Reach

Obesity is a worldwide issue. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 8 people lives with obesity. There are numerous GLP-1 trials taking place globally and this number will only increase as pharmaceutical companies overcome the current lack of supply of medications.

Researching Beyond Diabetes and Weight Loss

Research is expanding to address the comorbidities of these conditions. Numerous trials are underway in other indications beyond metabolic disorders, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and respiratory diseases. A survey of over 100 drug development professionals in obesity research revealed a significant shift towards combination treatments for obesity and its comorbidities. 64% of respondents believed the focus of future treatment will be combination therapy, targeting both obesity and its comorbidities, rather than single therapies.⁵ 

There are numerous opportunities in the GLP-1 pharmaceutical landscape, but only for those who can move fast. Here are 5 strategies that will be needed to keep up:

1. A partner that is not one-size-fits-all.

The future of obesity drug development requires sponsors of all sizes and partners with the agility to keep trials on track. While larger sponsors might have trials geared toward drug approval, smaller investigator-initiated studies may focus on evaluating the mechanism of action and other indications for the drug. Both are important to moving GLP-1 research forward.

Sponsors should look for partners that can move fast and offer tailored solutions that can scale large or small, to help investigators meet their timelines. Sponsors should also look for efficiencies when selecting a partner. A partner with a large global footprint that offers a variety of services can help streamline logistics. For example, LabConnect is a global, one-stop-shop that delivers both Central Laboratory Solutions and Functional Service Provider and Consulting Solutions.

2. Central Lab Solutions that can accelerate milestones.

With the increase in clinical studies being initiated globally, the demand for central laboratory services is also expected to grow. Central laboratory services include a range of laboratory-based activities that support clinical trials and other research initiatives within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. By providing timely and accurate services, central labs can significantly speed up the drug development timeline, ensuring that effective therapies reach the market more quickly.

Sponsors should look for central lab solutions that can accelerate their drug development milestones at every step. A few important places to gain velocity:

• Start-up: Any delay puts your trial at risk. But often trials have delays from the beginning. If you are partnering with a central lab, make sure to evaluate their start-up time. Many can take 12-20 weeks to begin, whereas central labs like LabConnect deliver faster start-up in only 8 weeks.
• Sample-tracking: Shipment-only tracking can often have a 24–48-hour lag. Look for partners that can offer proactive monitoring and query resolution, so small obstacles don’t slow you down.
• Lab kit production: Many sponsors outsource lab kit production, but unfortunately, they choose providers who use generic, unlabeled lab kits that are prone to errors. They are missing out on a huge opportunity for speed. Sponsors can fast-track a study by getting custom collection kits on-site in 8 weeks. Customized, pre-labeled, and in the order of the draw, these easy-to-use kits are huge time savers and reduce costly errors.
• Rapid turnaround time of data: As clinical protocols have become increasingly complex, the need for integrated clinical data management has become critical for clinical trial success. Make sure any partners you select are willing to integrate to 3rd party or local labs. Otherwise, this will increase the timeline to submission. Data management solutions that deliver a fully integrated CDISC/SDTM, submission-ready data file will save you time and money.

3. Flexible support models to expand teams quickly.

Larger sponsors are expanding their GLP-1 pipelines and looking to diversify the uses for their blockbuster drugs. They may face global resource challenges as they look to quickly support and expand their clinical trial teams worldwide with additional scientific and technical expertise.

Large sponsors should consider Functional Service Provider Solutions (FSPs) which are designed to seamlessly integrate with an organization’s internal processes, offering scalable solutions that can be tailored to meet the needs of the clinical study.

At LabConnect, we offer a unique FSP service model that provides highly qualified Laboratory Scientific Consultants who seamlessly integrate into study teams. These experts serve as both scientific and technical advisors, conducting thorough operational reviews of protocol analytical plans with a focus on optimizing data endpoints to support safety and efficacy.

Specifically, for GLP-1 trials, LabConnect FSP Solutions with their team of  subject matter experts can improve efficiency by quickly adding capacity to support large global studies.

4. A network that lives wherever patients do.

Currently, there is a global shortage of GLP-1 treatments, which is significantly affecting access to treatment. Sponsors must ensure they work with partners with a geographic reach so that global clinical trials can move efficiently.

With more locations worldwide than any other central laboratory services provider, LabConnect is uniquely positioned to address global challenges. LabConnect is the industry leader with routine and specialized testing expertise in over 30 locations across 6 continents – including logistically challenged regions around the world.

5. Metabolic expertise.

According to Global Data’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Centre, even though research is expanding, the majority of trials for GLP1-RAs are still in metabolic disorders. It is critical for sponsors to work with a partner with expertise in metabolic disorders.

At LabConnect, we take pride in our pivotal role in advancing diabetes research and GLP-1 trials. Over the past 22+ years, our dedicated team has supported clinical trials for innovative diabetes treatments at nearly 500 sites worldwide. With over 1800 global clinical trials successfully supported across multiple therapeutic areas, LabConnect has the global scale and expertise to accelerate your diabetes and GLP-1 trial milestones. To learn more about how we can partner with you, contact LabConnect.

References:

1. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/analyst-comment/obesity-market-growth-2031/?cf-view
2. Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2021 Aug 15;11(4):504–529.
3. Waters H, Graf M. America’s obesity crisis: the health and economic impact of excess weight. Miliken Institute. 2018:1–24.
4. KFF Health Tracking Poll July 2023: The Public’s Views Of New Prescription Weight Loss Drugs And Prescription Drug Costs. 2023, Aug 04.
5. https://www.iconplc.com/news-events/press-releases/new-icon-survey-highlights-importance-combination-therapies-future