With GLP-1 supply stabilizing after a 600% surge in U.S. use between 2018–2024, the obesity treatment market is on the brink of another transformation. A wave of late-stage drugs — spanning dual, triple, and non-GLP pathways — could rival bariatric surgery outcomes and reshape care delivery in 2026.
Highlights include:
- Multi-agonists: Retatrutide (GLP-1/GIP/glucagon) cut body weight by up to 24.2% in 48 weeks, surpassing existing GLP-1s.
- Novel combinations: CagriSema (semaglutide + amylin) and survodutide (GLP-1 + glucagon) offer 15–17% mean weight loss and benefits for bone mass, CV risk, and fatty liver disease.
- Oral options: Higher-dose oral semaglutide and non-peptide agents like orforglipron could expand accessibility.
- Extended dosing: Amgen’s MariTide achieved ~20% weight loss with once-monthly or every-other-month dosing.
Experts emphasize these therapies will not only expand choice for patients resistant to GLP-1s but also enable more personalized, long-term obesity care.