The GLP-1 Revolution
There’s no denying that GLP-1 drugs have cemented their status as not just diabetes helpers, but blockbusters, as well. In 2025, the scientific community await the results of many pivotal GLP-1 clinical trials.
Consequently, the outcome of these trials will shape the future drug approvals, investment strategies, and treatment guidelines. It’s safe to say that GLP-1s are here to stay, and will redefine the next generation of metabolic treatment.
What Is GLP-1?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone that your gut naturally produces. Specifically, it helps regulate blood sugar and suppresses appetite.
When you eat, GLP-1 slows digestion and sends fullness signals to your brain. Consequently, this reduces how much you eat.
Pharmaceutical versions of GLP-1, like semaglutide, mimic this hormone and patients use it to treat obesity and diabetes.
Overall, drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have helped many people lose weight. However, patients must inject them weekly, which deters some users.
2025: A Crucial Year for GLP-1
The market for GLP-1 receptor agonists has been exploding. In 2023 alone, Wegovy sales topped $4.5 billion globally, according to Novo Nordisk’s annual report.
What’s driving this? Evidence shows GLP-1 drugs can do more than lower glucose. Notably, they help people lose 15–20% of body weight, reduce cardiovascular events, and may even improve cognitive function.
With dozens of compounds in development, 2025 will be a transformative year for several high-stakes trials.
Top GLP-1 Clinical Trials in 2025
Below are five key trials poised to reshape the GLP-1 landscape.
- SURMOUNT-5 (Tirzepatide for Obesity Maintenance)
- Sponsor: Eli Lilly
- Phase: 3
- Focus: Determine the safety and efficacy of tirzepatide versus semaglutide in adult patients with obesity and related co-morbidities
- Outcome: Tirzepatide showed superior weight loss outcomes and reduction in waist circumference
Tirzepatide (Zepbound) changed the weight-loss game with up to 22.5% average weight loss in prior trials.
“This is really extraordinary weight loss,” remarked lead investigator Louis Aronne, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY), in a press conference.
“One of the things we’ve learned now is that there’s a dose response to weight loss and improvement in cardiovascular and other metabolic risk factors that are associated with obesity. In general, the more weight someone loses, the better the metabolic parameters, and we can see that here.”
- SELECT (Semaglutide for Cardiovascular Risk in Obesity Patients)
- Sponsor: Novo Nordisk
- Phase: 3
- Focus: CV risk reduction in patients without diabetes
- Expected readout: Mid-2025
The SELECT trial proved Wegovy reduces major cardiovascular events by 20% in people with obesity and no diabetes.
If successful, semaglutide could gain expanded approval for cardiovascular protection—an insurance-reimbursement game-changer.
“These results highlight semaglutide’s early action on decreasing major cardiovascular events, with significant benefits already evident by the first 6 months, and for some, even earlier, even before any major weight loss and before most patients would have been titrated to their full target dose of 2.4 mg.” noted Dr. Jorge Plutzky, lead author and Director of Preventive Cardiology of Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
- DREAMS-1 (Mazdutide: GCG/GLP-1 in Chinese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes)
- Sponsor: Innovent Biologics
- Phase: 2 (early 2025 start)
- Focus: Localized dual-agonist therapy for Asia
Overall, China has over 120 million adults with diabetes. As such, Innovent’s dual agonist mazdutide may become a low-cost, region-specific competitor to tirzepatide.
The 2025 trial will focus on glycemic control and initial weight loss benchmarks. Success could open the Asian market to domestic GLP-1 innovation and reduce reliance on Western biotech.
Hence, investors watching emerging markets should keep this trial on radar.
- VANQUISH-1 (VK2735: Oral GLP-1/GIP Agonist)
- Sponsor: Viking Therapeutics
- Phase: Phase 3
- Focus: Oral administration
Injectable GLP-1 drugs dominate—but oral pills are the next frontier. Viking’s VK2735 showed strong early data, with weight reductions up to ≥5% in 28 days.
The 2025 Phase 3 trial will test long-term use, safety, and scalability. If successful, oral GLP-1s could disrupt the current injectable monopoly.
- IMPACT (Pemvidutide: GLP-1/Glucagon Agonist for MASH and Obesity)
- Sponsor: Altimmune
- Phase: 2b
- Focus: MASH and liver fat reduction
- Expected results: Mid-2025
Obesity and NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) often overlap. Pemvidutide is a dual-agonist aimed at reducing liver fat and body weight simultaneously.
Early data showed up to 80% liver fat reduction and 10% weight loss in 12 weeks. That could make pemvidutide a contender in the NASH race, where no GLP-1 drug is yet approved.
Keep an eye on this trial’s late-stage readout—it’s one of the few tackling both metabolic and liver endpoints.
Why These Trials Matter
GLP-1s are no longer just about blood sugar or weight.
- Cardiovascular trials show a reduction in heart attacks and strokes.
- Brain health research hints at protection against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
- Trials in PCOS, smoking cessation, and addiction are gaining traction.
In 2025, GLP-1s have already started shaping chronic disease prevention, not just treatment. Overall, these ripple effects extend from clinical care to public health policy.
Moreover, with an increase in biotech mergers, successful trials could trigger billion-dollar acquisitions.
Follow These Trials Closely
GLP-1 drugs have become a defining story in modern medicine. Hence, what happens in 2025’s clinical trials will determine the next decade of metabolic care.
For researchers, the data will refine hypotheses. Meanwhile, for investors, they’re roadmaps for ROI. For clinicians, they offer hope for patients beyond diabetes.
One thing’s clear: GLP-1 is no longer a drug class—it’s a movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all GLP-1 drugs injectables?
Currently, most are injectables, but oral versions like VK2735 are in development and could hit the market in 2–3 years.
What makes a GLP-1 drug different from older diabetes meds?
GLP-1 drugs target multiple metabolic pathways. They suppress appetite, slow digestion, and even affect the brain’s reward centers.
How can I track clinical trial progress?
You can use ClinicalTrials.gov, company investor relations pages, or follow updates from ADA, EASD, and AASLD conferences.
What are some key GLP-1 trends in 2025?
It’s likely that GLP-1 receptor agonists will receive new FDA approvals for additional uses for certain conditions. This includes chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and liver disease. There are also new injectable GLP-1s being investigated in clinical trials.
What does the future look like for GLP-1 drugs?
According to Mckinsey, sales of GLP-1 medications may reach $100 billion by 2030.
When will semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) become generic?
Danish pharmaceutical company and semaglutide developer, Novo Nordisk, has a patent on the drug until December 5, 2031. Until then, only Novo Nordisk can produce semaglutide.
However, the drugmaker may appeal for a patent extension.
Will GLP-1 eventually stop working?
When you stop takingsemaglutide, the process stops by which semaglutide regulates blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. Many end up regaining the weight that they had lost.
Moreover, patients may feel their old appetites coming back to the same level before semaglutide use. In some cases, their appetites may even be stronger than before.
What drugs should you not take with semaglutide?
Unless you’ve cleared their use with your doctor, you should not take aspirin and other drugs for appetite control. In addition, you should also not take with semaglutide medicines for colds, asthma, cough, or sinus problems.
Photo: Freepik
