The weight loss market is experiencing significant growth, fueled by rising obesity rates and advancements in pharmaceutical and supplement offerings. Analysts at SNS Insider predict a massive 43.73% CAGR for the Weight Loss Drugs Market through 2032, with nearly one in four employers likely to cover anti-obesity medications in the coming year.
Industry Players Adapt to Growing Demand
Several health and wellness companies are swiftly adapting to capitalize on this expanding market. PlantX Life Inc. (CSE: VEGA) (OTCQB: PLTXF) recently announced a joint venture with LIV3 to launch SugarShield, a supplement targeting the US$5.24 billion Weight Loss Management Supplement Market. Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) offers Healthy Weight products, including GLP-1 Nutrition Companion combos, while WW International, Inc. (NASDAQ: WW), also known as WeightWatchers, has added compounded GLP-1 to its offerings.
Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED) has evolved from initial skepticism to now including access to GLP-1 medications where clinically appropriate. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) is rapidly advancing its anti-obesity asset MariTide through Phase II, planning a robust Phase III clinical program. According to Morgan Stanley, the global market for obesity drugs could increase by more than 15 times over the next five years.
PlantX and LIV3 Launch SugarShield
PlantX's joint venture with LIV3 aims to leverage the growing interest in weight loss supplements. Lorne Rapkin, CEO of PlantX, stated, "As the weight loss supplement market continues to expand, driven by excitement around the popularity in products once designed for treating effects of type 2 diabetes, we at PlantX see this as an opportunity to offer a plant-based alternative without the synthetic properties." The joint venture includes a 50/50 profit-sharing arrangement, with PlantX handling branding, packaging, e-commerce platform development, and marketing, while LIV3 manages product supply.
Christopher Mearns, founder of LIV3, explains that SugarShield is formulated to boost energy, reduce cravings, and support weight management without restrictive diets. Mearns added, "With LIV3’s SugarShield, consumers can detox from the negative effects of fructose without changing their diet. This supplement improves energy levels through enhanced mitochondrial function, supports glucose utilization, and increases insulin sensitivity, leading to weight loss and improved metabolic conditions."
Amgen's MariTide Shows Promise
Amgen's MariTide, an injectable bispecific molecule, simultaneously activates the GLP-1 receptor while blocking the GIP receptor. Robert Bradway, CEO of Amgen, stated, "We look forward to generating data that will show what we can achieve in patients that are obese or living with overweight and what we can do in that context for patients that are at high risk of heart disease, renal disease, liver disease." Phase I results published in Nature Metabolism demonstrated a 14.5% body weight loss by day 85, compared to a 1.5% weight gain in the placebo group.
