Global Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Market (by Product, Route of Administration, & Region): Insights and Forecast with Potential Impact of COVID-19 (2022-2027)

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a type of non-insulin medication that is used in conjunction with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. These medications are used to help lower blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C while also assisting with weight loss. GLP-1 tells the hypothalamus, the part of the brain in charge of appetite and thirst, to drink and eat less.

The market would gain traction in the coming years as the number of products approved to aid in the treatment of diabetes increased. An increase in mergers and acquisitions is expected to support the market in the coming years. The global Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) market in is likely to reach US$18.75 billion by 2023, progressing at a CAGR of 6.48%, during the forecasted period.

Segment Covered

By Product: In terms of product, the report offers insights of the global Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) market into five segments: Trulicity, Ozempic, Victoza, Rybelsus and Other GLP 1 Products. Trulicity product acquired largest share in the market, due to increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, which has led to a greater demand for effective treatments. Whereas, rybelsus segment is expected to have the highest CAGR in the future due to its effectiveness in lowering blood sugar levels, its convenient once-daily dosing, and the fact that it is taken orally rather than by injection like many other diabetes medications.

Geographic Coverage

According to this report, the global glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) market can be divided into five major regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in North America region are the US, Canada and Mexico, while Europe includes Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain and Rest of Europe. Moreover, China, Japan, India, Australia South Korea and Rest of Asia Pacific are included in the Asia Pacific region. The North America glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) market occupied the maximum market share, primarily owing to an increase in the aged population with rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity and high awareness among the population and higher per capita income of the population. While the US continues to be a prominent region of North America glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) market, accounting to the prevalence of advanced healthcare technologies, increased funding for research and development activities, increasing incidence of diabetes and growing geriatric population.

Top Impacting Factors

Growth Drivers

• Rising Cases of Diabetes
• Rising Cases of Obesity
• Increasing Healthcare Expenditure
• Increasing Aging Population

Challenges

• Short Half-Life of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists
• Unknown Severe Side Effects

Trends

• Potential Clinical Application of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists For the Treatment of NASH
• Surge in Research & Development in Pharmaceutical Sector
• New Product Launches
• Expanding Reimbursement Landscape

Driver: Rising Cases of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. GLP-1 receptor agonists are a type of drug that can be used to reduce blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes. They work by stimulating insulin secretion and decreasing glucagon secretion (which prevents more glucose from entering the bloodstream), as well as slowing stomach emptying, which means less glucose from food enters the bloodstream. Diabetes prevalence has risen faster in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. As the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes rises, so does the demand for medication, driving the global market for Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1).

Challenge: Short Half-Life of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists

The major downside of GLP-1 agonists is that they have a shorter half-life due to degradation in the presence of the DPP enzyme. The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) can improve glucose-dependent insulin secretion in diabetics. However, its very short half-life (1.5-5 min) in plasma is a significant constraint for therapeutic application. A shorter half-life typically means higher withdrawal symptoms. If the half-life is too short, more frequent dosage may be required to maintain acceptable exposures while avoiding unduly high peak concentrations. This may make achieving optimal efficacy, safety, and patient compliance difficult. As a result, the expense of treatment doubles, as the patients need to take multiple doses in a short time period. Thus, the short half-life of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists has recently become a market challenge.

Trend: Potential Clinical Application of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists For the Treatment of NASH

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive disease of the liver that currently has no approved treatment and a low diagnosis rate. It is also known as the most severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There are four stages in NASH’s disease progression, with stage one the least severe and stage four the most. There is some evidence to suggest that GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) may be a useful treatment for NASH. One study found that treatment with a GLP-1 agonist led to significant improvements in liver function, including reductions in liver fat content, in people with NASH. Another study found that treatment with a GLP-1 agonist led to a reduction in liver inflammation and an improvement in insulin sensitivity in people with NASH. The rising prevalence of Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and increasing research for potential clinical application of glp-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of NASH is expected to boost the market growth in the coming years.

The COVID-19 Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a complex and multifaceted impact on the market for GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes by helping to control blood sugar levels. The demand for GLP-1 drugs may have increased as a result of the pandemic due to the high prevalence of diabetes and the associated risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. People with diabetes are at increased risk of complications from COVID-19, including severe illness and death, and may therefore be more motivated to take their medications as prescribed and to manage their blood sugar levels carefully.

Analysis of Key Players

The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) market is concentrated with the presence of a few number of players majorly dominating worldwide. Key players of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) market are Pfizer Inc., AstraZeneca PL, Sanofi, Novo Nordisk A/S, Eli Lilly and Company, Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Benemae Pharmaceutical Corporation.