The future of obesity drug development is being shaped by efforts to address key challenges such as muscle preservation, improved tolerability, and more convenient administration routes. Industry experts suggest that the next wave of treatments will need to offer sustainable weight loss without significant muscle loss, fewer side effects, and better adherence options.
Interest in this field has surged due to the rapid growth of the GLP-1 drug market for diabetes and obesity. The sector now represents a potential $1 trillion opportunity, prompting both major pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech firms to invest heavily in research.
Jane Hughes, president of R&D and co-founder of Verdiva Bio, highlighted the scale of current activity: "There are more than 700 obesity clinical trials ongoing." However, despite promising results from GLP-1 therapies—drugs that have become widely used for short-term weight reduction—concerns remain about their long-term effectiveness.
Jonathan Rees, CEO and co-founder of MitoRx Therapeutics, said that while GLP-1s deliver notable initial weight loss benefits, they also lead to lean muscle depletion. He explained this creates a "metabolic trap" where patients experience a reduced basal metabolic rate that can trigger weight regain and undermine lasting success.
Hughes echoed these concerns. She noted that only 32% of patients continue with GLP-1 treatment after one year because many experience unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This discontinuation often leads to regaining lost weight.
Until recently, GLP-1 medications for obesity were available only via subcutaneous injection. In December 2025, Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy was approved. As reported by BioSpace, this oral option has expanded access for patients who previously avoided injectable drugs.
Looking ahead, companies are exploring various strategies to improve outcomes. Hughes stated: "Ultimately, the goal for Verdiva Bio is to refine GLP-1s via convenience, tolerability, muscle preservation, combinations and lifelong weight management." Rees added that newer therapies would focus on combining metabolic modulation with appetite control mechanisms. Hughes agreed: "Obesity is more than just appetite," she said. "Long-term success is going to depend on metabolic efficiency, body composition and energy balance."
Verdiva Bio is developing once-weekly oral versions (VRB-101) and amylin peptides (VRB-103) as standalone treatments or in combination regimens administered daily or weekly. MitoRx plans to present new data at the American Diabetes Association conference in June 2026; its pipeline includes both subcutaneous and oral monotherapies with potential for combination use.
Both leaders emphasized there is no universal solution for maintaining weight loss after initial treatment success. According to Hughes: "The future will be a mix-and-match strategy," allowing therapy switching or combinations based on patient preferences. Some individuals may still opt for injectables due to familiarity while others may choose oral drugs for convenience or logistical reasons such as easier shipping without refrigeration requirements.
Another recent trend involves direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channels for obesity medications—a development viewed as both an opportunity and a risk by industry observers. Hughes described DTC access as important for gaining traction in the U.S., but also cautioned about under-regulated providers who might put patient safety at risk.
