Four blockbuster GLP-1 medications are expected to be among the 10 best-selling drugs in 2026, accounting for $66.8 billion in global sales, according to market research company Statista
Statista predicts Ozempic will yield $22.3 billion in 2026, followed by Mounjaro with $19.8 billion, Wegovy with $13.4 billion and Zepbound with $11.3 billion.
Here are six recent updates on the lucrative drug class:
1. Novo Nordisk’s experimental obesity medication CagriSema could lead to 15.7% weight loss over 68 weeks — significantly lower than the company’s projection of 25% weight loss. On March 10, the company said it plans to seek regulatory approval for the drug in early 2026.
2. Longevity clinics are tapping into the GLP-1 market and marketing the medications for anti-aging purposes. Ongoing studies are examining how the drug class might affect age-related conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers.
3. Citing high prescription drug costs, particularly among GLP-1s, Highmark Health Plans reported a $166 million operating loss for 2024. Several other insurers have said GLP-1s are a key factor in their operating losses.
4. A University of Chicago-led study analyzed the cost-effectiveness of Wegovy and Zepbound, which are both approved for weight loss. To be considered cost-effective, researchers said Wegovy’s price would need to fall by more than 80% to $127 per month, and Zepbound would need to drop by nearly one-third to $361 per month.
5. For the first time, GLP-1 medications surpassed specialty drugs in 2024 expenditures, according to a March 25 report from Evernorth. Weight loss drugs accounted for 46.8% of the total increase in drug spending and made up 6.7% of total drug costs. GLP-1s for weight loss saw a 210.2% spending increase in 2023 and a 148.7% increase in 2024.
6. On March 26, compounding pharmacies are no longer permitted to manufacture exact copies of Zepbound, per an FDA deadline.
