Oral GLP1 Obesity Treatment Will Be a Game Changer...Opportunities for Korean Companies, too
Sep 09, 2025
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Groth Research, an independent research company, published an in-depth analysis report on the global oral obesity treatment industry through a regular report in September and released the results of the survey. The report, which summarizes the recent pace of global pharmaceutical companies' development of oral GLP-1 formulations and the clinical progress of major companies, also predicted that oral formulations could fundamentally shake the structure of the obesity treatment market centered on existing injections.
According to the report, the global market is currently led by injections from Novo Nordisk (Wigobi) and Eli Lilly (Munzaro), but the once-a-week administration still has limitations in reducing the patient's adherence to medication. As a result, competition between Novonodisk's oral semaglutide and Eli Lilly's opoglipron is expected to intensify.
In particular, Lily is entering phase 3 clinical trials of opoglyflon and has secured positive data in weight loss effects and tolerability. On the other hand, Pfizer has stopped developing danuglifloin due to safety issues such as hepatotoxicity, demonstrating the difficulty of oral formulations. Based on this differentiation, the report evaluated that opoglifron is likely to become a leader in the global oral obesity treatment market.
Meanwhile, domestic companies are also actively developing oral obesity drugs. Ildong Pharmaceutical is conducting phase 1 clinical trial of type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment candidate ID110521156 through its subsidiary UNOVIA. D&D Pharmatech is also accelerating the development of oral formulations using its own platform technology.
Han Yong-hee, CEO of Groth Research, emphasized in a report that "Oral obesity treatment will be a game changer that simultaneously increases the quality of life and treatment duration of patients. It will be a great opportunity not only for global pharmaceutical companies but also for technological domestic companies."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
