Global Incretin-based Drugs Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2025-2037
Incretin-based Drugs Market size was over USD 5.1 billion in 2024 and is likely to reach USD 7.6 billion by the end of 2037, witnessing around 3.4% CAGR during the forecast period i.e., between 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of incretin-based drugs is estimated at USD 5.2 billion.
The many advantageous properties of these medicines are exploited in various fields of healthcare, such as obesity and diabetes, for new usage discoveries. Thus, the increasing patient population from these disciplines is driving growth in the market rapidly. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with diabetes from across the globe is projected to increase by 46.0% from 2021 to 2045, accounting for 783.0 million. The report also mentioned that over 90.0% of these cases are predicted to be type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the high-risk factors to be obesity and aging. On the other hand, WHO reported that around 35.6% of 2.5 billion overweight adults (aged 18 and over) worldwide were living with obesity in 2022.
These figures present a large and continuously growing consumer base for this sector. Currently, Advances in the pharmaceutical industry and growing biologic hormonal explorations are widening the range of functions, such as lowering free fatty acid levels, improving insulin resistance, and lowering body weight, of these therapeutics. For instance, in June 2023, Eli Lilly and Company demonstrated a 14.7% mean weight reduction in adults with its once-daily oral nonpeptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, orforglipron, within 36 weeks. The results were obtained from a phase II clinical trial. With this positive response, the company further proceeded to conduct ATTAIN phase III and ACHIEVE phase III clinical programs for chronic weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Incretin-based Drugs Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Increasing focus on extensive R&D and production: The incretin-based drugs market is observing vibrant business flow, owing to the wide-range research and development activities. This cohort is promoting advancements in drug delivery systems and formulations, enhancing medicinal efficiency. Subsequently, this is propelling demand for these multi-functional therapies, pushing companies to increase production and causing market expansion. For instance, in May 2024, Eli Lilly and Company invested an additional USD 5.3 billion in its Indiana manufacturing site. This escalation was intended to double the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections.
- Heightening healthcare expenditure and biopharma extension: The continuous increment in medical spending is expected to propel the market strongly across the globe. After the pandemic struck, various emerging landscapes realized the importance of prioritizing preventive measures, promoting treatment of highly prone habitats with diabetes and poor metabolism. This is pushing them to invest heavily in this industry. For instance, worldwide healthcare spending peaked at USD 9.8 trillion in 2021, capturing 10.3% of the global GDP: WHO. In addition, the IQVIA estimations claimed that the biopharmaceutical industry is poised to reach up to USD 1.7 trillion by 2026, marking a lucrative future for this sector.
Challenges
- Limitations in global accessibility: The absence of reliable distribution channels for the market across the under-developed regions limits complete globalization. Despite the upsurging demand, the low- and middle-income countries still lag in establishing adequate healthcare infrastructure. This restricts public access to available treatments, resulting in a major obstacle to wide adoption. Additionally, the absence of continuous capital influx discourages local drug developers from participating in R&D cohorts, hindering progression in this sector.
- Rising concerns about adverse reactions: Hesitation regarding the long-term efficacy and safety may impede growth in the market. There are many events with side effects, impacting patients’ quality of life, which consequently prevents them from investing in these medicines. The additional economic burden of managing such adverse reactions also deflates the use of related therapies. This not only damages consumer trust but also creates uncertainty in revenue generation, diluting the participation interest of pharma companies.
Incretin-based Drugs Market: Key Insights
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Base Year |
2024 |
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Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
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CAGR |
3.4% |
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Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 5.1 billion |
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Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 7.6 billion |
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Regional Scope |
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Incretin-based Drugs Segmentation
Administration Method (Oral Drugs, Injectable Drugs)
Based on administration methods, the oral drugs segment is anticipated to garner the largest share of 77.1% in the incretin-based drugs market by the end of 2037. The convenience of dosing and generic availability are a few of the major growth factors in this segment. According to an NLM article, the solid oral medicine industry was estimated to be at USD 550.0 million in 2022. It also stated that 46.0% of the total FDA-approved modalities and applications were in the form of oral immediate-release products. This testifies to the proprietorship of this route of administration over other methods and inspires more pharma pioneers to focus on this genre of drug delivery systems.
Drug Type (Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP-1) Agonists, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) Inhibitors)
In terms of drug type, the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists segment is projected to dominate the incretin-based drugs market throughout the analyzed timeframe. This segment’s leadership is pledged with the cohort of clinical evidence, demonstrating high-end results in managing T2D and associated risk factors. The unmatched efficacy and safety profile, established by elongated clinical trials, drive market reach and sales of GLP-1 agonists such as tirzepatide, amycretin, and liraglutide. For instance, in the fourth quarter of 2024, Eli Lilly and Company secured USD 3.5 billion and USD 1.9 billion global revenues for Mounjaro and Zepbound, respectively. It contributed to the 45.0% increase in the company’s total worldwide revenue in comparison to 2023.
Our in-depth analysis of the global incretin-based drugs market includes the following segments:
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Administration Method |
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Drug Type |
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Customize this ReportIncretin-based Drugs Industry - Regional Synopsis
North American Market Forecast
As a healthcare-based developed region, North America is expected to obtain the majority share of 46% in incretin-based drugs market over the assessed timeline. On account of the rising usage among the increasing diabetic type 2 diabetic population, the region is consolidating its global presence. This is further testified by the U.S. medical care expenditure, which reached USD 4.9 trillion and accounted for 17.6% of the national GDP in 2023: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The strong emphasis on research-based biopharmaceutical marketplace and highly obese population is also a significant contributor to the proprietorship of North America in this sector.
The U.S. is propagating the market with several growth factors such as the high prevalence of obesity, well-established medical settings, and favorable regulatory framework. As per the CDC report, the proportion of obese adults in the total population of the U.S. was 20.0% in 2024. It also mentioned that the prevalence of this condition in 23 major states of the country was over 35.0% in the same year. On the other hand, to support accessibility improvement, in November 2023, the FDA granted the use of Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection in obese adults for efficient weight management. This agonist has a proven efficacy on activating GIP and GLP-1 hormone receptors. These factors indicate a prosperous future for this landscape.
APAC Market Forecast
Asia Pacific is expected to register a substantial growth in the incretin-based drugs market over the discussed period. The increasing geriatric & overweight population and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in this region are propelling the consumption of these medicines. The rise in the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle is also fostering a large patient pool for this sector. This is pushing domestic pioneers to engage their resources in this category. For instance, in August 2024, D&D Pharmatech initiated dosing in the phase II trial on DD01. This step was intended to prove the efficacy and safety of this long-acting, dual GLP-1 agonist to treat obesity and reduce the associated risk of CVD.
India is augmenting the market with inflating demand for T2D medications and domestic biopharmaceutical advances. A recent nationwide survey published by NLM in June 2024 revealed that the overall prevalences of diabetes and prediabetes in India are 11.4% and 15.3%, respectively. According to the World Bank, India imported USD 32,077.6 thousand worth of insulin and its salts from international suppliers in 2023. This infers a significant requirement for insulin management solutions, including incretin-based drugs, to attend escalating patient population.
Companies Dominating the Incretin-based Drugs Landscape
- GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
- Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH.
- Merck & Co., Inc.
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.
- Sanofi S.A.
- AstraZeneca Plc.
- Eli Lilly and Company
- Johnson & Johnson
- Novartis AG
- Novo Nordisk
- Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
The dynamics in the incretin-based drugs market are evolving with the recent clinical findings procured by global key players. Extensive R&D investments and production capacity increments are currently acting as signs of development in this sector. They are also meticulously conducting clinical trials to establish a wide spectrum of applications for their product pipelines. This is influencing others to globalize their portfolio and distribution channels for securing a good profit margin. For instance, in October 2024, Metsera collaborated with Amneal Pharmaceuticals to accelerate the development and large-scale supply of its new weight loss medicines portfolio, including MET-097. The GLP-1 agonist demonstrated notable achievements in significant and durable weight loss during the phase 1 trial. Such key players are:
In the News
- In January 2025, Novo Nordisk shared topline results from a phase Ib/IIa clinical trial on its recently developed unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin. The 36-week-long evaluation showcased body weight loss of 22.0% on 20mg once weekly subcutaneous administration for adults with a baseline body weight of 92.7 kg.
- In October 2024, Rani Therapeutics Holdings revealed promising preclinical pharmacokinetic data on a new delivery method of GLP-1 incretin triagonist. The new technique effectively delivers the required drugs while mimicking the RaniPill route of administration for the treatment of obesity.
- In August 2024, Eli Lilly and Company announced the on-prescription general availability of Zepbound (tirzepatide) in 2.5 mg and 5 mg single-dose vials. With this commercial expansion, the company aimed at increasing the supply and access to treatment for adults living with obesity.
Author Credits: Radhika Pawar
- Report ID: 768
- Published Date: Apr 10, 2025
- Report Format: PDF, PPT
