GLP-1 Market Set to Accelerate as Patent Expirations Begin to Reshape the Category
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
According to a recent global market analysis published by ResearchAndMarkets, the GLP-1 agonists market is entering a new phase of growth, with forecasts projecting the category to reach USD 170.75 billion by 2033. That would represent a sharp increase from USD 64.42 billion in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of roughly 13 percent. The report points to sustained demand for obesity and diabetes treatments alongside structural changes expected as key patents begin to expire in select regions.
GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have moved rapidly from specialist therapies into mainstream use. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, these medications are now widely prescribed for weight management and are increasingly being evaluated for additional indications, including cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and neurodegenerative conditions. The report highlights the expansion of approved indications as a major contributor to the category’s rapid growth.
As regulators continue to broaden clinical use cases, the addressable patient population is expanding. This trend is reinforced by persistently high rates of obesity and diabetes globally, particularly in North America. ResearchAndMarkets notes that strong clinical outcomes in both glycemic control and weight reduction have supported adoption among healthcare providers, accelerating uptake across multiple patient segments.
Patented GLP-1 products accounted for the majority of global market share in 2024. The report attributes this dominance to extensive clinical data, established safety profiles, and mature reimbursement pathways. In many regions, broad insurance coverage has helped maintain patient access despite high list prices, supporting continued growth for originator products in the near term.
At the same time, the report points to a shift in the patent landscape beginning in 2026, though the timing varies significantly by market. In Canada, patent protections for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, are expected to expire in early 2026. Other large markets, including China, India, and Brazil, are also expected to see key patent expirations around that timeframe. ResearchAndMarkets notes that these expirations are likely to open the door for lower-cost alternatives, including generics or biosimilars, subject to regulatory approval.
In contrast, semaglutide patent protection in the United States is expected to extend into the early 2030s. As a result, the report describes a staggered global transition rather than a single inflection point, with biosimilar competition emerging earlier outside the U.S. and pricing and access dynamics evolving unevenly across regions.
End-user trends are also shifting. According to the report, home-care settings and fitness and weight management facilities accounted for the largest share of GLP-1 usage in 2024. The growing availability of injectable and oral formulations has made long-term treatment more feasible outside traditional clinical environments, supporting increased self-administration. This shift reflects broader changes in how obesity and metabolic health are being managed, with care increasingly extending into home and lifestyle-based settings.
The United States remained the largest GLP-1 agonists market in 2024, driven by high obesity and diabetes prevalence, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and strong physician awareness. ResearchAndMarkets points to reimbursement mechanisms and payer coverage as key factors supporting widespread adoption, even as affordability and long-term access remain areas of active debate.
Taken together, the report frames the GLP-1 category as one of the most consequential pharmaceutical markets of the next decade. As patents expire in select global markets and biosimilar competition gradually emerges, the sector is expected to reshape access, pricing, and utilization patterns, with implications extending beyond healthcare into fitness, wellness, and preventive health ecosystems.
