The GLP-1 class of medicines has very quickly become a global phenomenon. Approximately 1.6 million people now use them in the UK and the worldwide market is forecast to grow from around $14bn to almost $50bn by 2030.1,2 Whatever the pros and cons of using drugs to achieve weight loss are, it is clear that these therapies currently meet a significant unmet need, writes James (pictured).
Oral GLP-1 therapies are widely viewed as the next stage in this growth story, with Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide (Wegovy) being authorised in the UK in June and Eli Lilly’s orforglipron (Foundayo) following in August. From the convenience for patients to reduce their reliance on injectable pens and cold-chain distribution, they offer a range of benefits.
It is logical to assume that oral formulations will also ease the supply constraints that have characterised injectable GLP-1 medicines. The reality, however, is more nuanced. Rather than removing supply chain pressures, oral GLP-1s are shifting manufacturing challenges further upstream, with new bottlenecks emerging at different points in the manufacturer-to-customer process.
Manufacturing pressure
Removing cold-chain distribution does not make oral GLP-1 medicines inherently simpler to manufacture or scale. They require substantially larger quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) than injectable formulations.3 They also depend on specialist excipients and absorption enhancers. At the same time, demand for pharmaceutical-grade blister packaging continues to grow.
The need for these components is rising alongside demand for the medicines themselves, creating pressure across multiple tiers of the manufacturing supply chain. As a result, production capacity increasingly depends on the availability of critical inputs from specialist suppliers, making it harder for manufacturers to predict and respond to potential disruptions.
To meet these requirements effectively, manufacturers need
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