New supplements and products are being launched as US consumers show their appetite for weight loss
As obesity rates climb worldwide, with more than 100 million Americans affected, analysts at SNS Insider project the weight loss drugs market to grow at an annual rate of 43.73 percent through 2032.
This market, one of the fastest growing in pharmaceuticals, sees almost one in four employers considering covering the cost of anti-obesity medications in the next year.
Health and wellness companies, including PlantX Life Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S, Eli Lilly and Company, Viking Therapeutics, Inc., and Roche Holding AG, are responding to these developments.
According to Morgan Stanley, the global market for obesity drugs is expected to increase by more than 15 times over the next five years. Their benefits extend beyond weight loss, with significant implications for consumer goods and longevity.
The introduction of new weight loss drugs may accelerate as big pharma players enter the market.
PlantX Life Inc. has announced a joint venture with LIV3 to launch the SugarShield supplement, targeting the US$5.24bn Weight Loss Management Supplement Market.
PlantX will manage the design of SugarShield's branding and packaging while developing an e-commerce platform to support the product launch.
Marketing initiatives will also be led by PlantX, using its proprietary SEO strategies. The joint venture profits will be equally split between PlantX and LIV3.
Lorne Rapkin, CEO of PlantX, said, “As the weight loss supplement market continues to expand, driven by excitement around the popularity in products once designed for treating effects of type 2 diabetes, we at PlantX see this as an opportunity to offer a plant-based alternative without the synthetic properties.”
Rapkin praised LIV3's founder, Chris Mearns, for developing what he described as ‘nature's Ozempic’ with SugarShield.
LIV3's supplement is designed to help users manage their weight by boosting energy and curbing cravings without restrictive diets.
Christopher Mearns, founder of LIV3, emphasized that SugarShield helps reduce uric acid and improve metabolic health without dietary changes. The supplement is positioned as a natural alternative to sugar-free diets.
Paul Gross, a member of PlantX's medical panel, validated the science behind SugarShield, ensuring the supplement is grounded in scientific research. Gross's contributions have bolstered confidence in the supplement’s potential, supporting its launch with assurance in its efficacy.
Novo Nordisk recently announced results from its SOUL trial, demonstrating that oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) reduced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 14 percent in adults with type 2 diabetes.
This randomized study, which enrolled 9,650 participants, showed benefits beyond weight loss.
Eli Lilly, meanwhile, has taken legal action against medical spas and online vendors selling copycat versions of tirzepatide, the main ingredient in its weight-loss medicine Zepbound. These lawsuits mark the first since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed tirzepatide from its short supply list.
Viking Therapeutics presented preclinical data on novel dual agonists for obesity and metabolic disorders at the American Diabetes Association’s 84th Scientific Sessions. The data showcased significant reductions in body weight and food intake in obese mice.
Roche Holding AG reported that three early-stage obesity and diabetes drug candidates could generate more than US$3.6bn annually.
These drugs are part of a broader pipeline that Roche expects will lead to the launch of 20 new medicines by the end of the decade, with a focus on several therapeutic areas, including metabolic diseases.
