A May 21 Research and Markets report projected the global GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss drug market expanding from $15.5B in 2025 to $18.02B in 2026 — a 16.3% compound annual growth rate. The forecast tracks through 2030 and 2035 across major players Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer, plus the growing oral GLP-1 segment (Wegovy pill, Foundayo, Structure Therapeutics' aleniglipron entering Phase 3). By 2020 roughly 4 million people were on GLP-1s; by 2026 that estimate has reached 30 million. The market data is the formal backdrop for the broader 2026 obesity-pharmacology conversation: GLP-1 alone is now larger than the 2024 oncology drug class's largest single product. The IQVIA peptide-CDMO capacity-build wave (Bachem, PolyPeptide, CordenPharma SPPS expansions through 2028) and the Lilly $4.5B Lebanon Indiana investment lean directly into the demand projection.
SNS Insider published its 2026 Peptide Synthesis Market Report on Tuesday May 19, projecting the global peptide synthesis market to reach $1,889.88M by 2035 from current levels, anchored on GLP-1 receptor agonist demand and the broader peptide therapeutics pipeline. The report tracks the major SPPS capacity expansions: CordenPharma's $500M+ Boulder Colorado site adding 25,000L+ to reach 42,000L total by 2028, Bachem's three-site expansion (Bubendorf Switzerland, St Helens UK, Vista California) plus a new Sisseln Switzerland facility, and PolyPeptide's €200M credit facility supporting the doubling of 2023 revenue by 2028. The structural read: incretin-class peptide demand (semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide, mazdutide, survodutide, eleglipron) plus the next-generation pipeline (NK2R agonists, amylin combos, peptide-drug conjugates) is the demand wave the CDMOs are positioning against.
A new market landscape report published April 21 projects the global peptide drug conjugate market will exceed $1.5 billion by 2031, with >14% CAGR and coverage of more than 50 peptide conjugates currently in clinical development. Commercial PDC benchmarks include Novartis's Lutathera and Pluvicto and Bicycle Therapeutics' nuzefatide pevedotin, with earlier-stage pipelines from Zymeworks, Bicycle, PeptiDream, and others.