The Most Surprising Development in GLP-1s

The GLP-1 landscape is a fast-evolving sector of the industry. The medications became popular only a few years ago when they were approved for weight-loss treatments. Since then, sales of the drugs have sky rocketed.

Along with rising sales, GLP-1s are a major focus for R&D teams. Major pharma companies are developing new versions of the medication that are easier for patients to use, while also funding research into areas outside of weight-loss where they may also be effective.

Pharmaceutical Executive spoke with Dr. Bo Liang, chief medical officer at CORXEL, about the trajectory of GLP-1s. Dr. Liang previously worked at Novo Nordisk, where he lead global clinical development and regulatory submission for semaglutide. During the conversation, he spoke about recent developments with the medications and where he sees the sector moving in the coming years.

Pharmaceutical Executive: Over the last decade, what was the most surprising development in GLP-1s?
Dr. Bo Liang: Based on my experience — I spent eleven years at Novo Nordisk from 2013 — I can trace how this field has evolved. When Saxenda was first developed as an obesity treatment, efficacy was still the most significant unmet medical need. Saxenda successfully addressed many of the safety concerns associated with earlier anti-obesity medications, which was an important step forward.

But the biggest achievement since then — and I would call it genuinely surprising in terms of how far the field has come — is that current medications are now able to deliver more than 10 to 15% body weight reduction. Some compounds are now achieving efficacy comparable to bariatric surgery. That is the single most significant advancement we have seen over the last ten to fifteen years in obesity medicine.