AstraZeneca advanced into the competitive obesity treatment market after mid-stage trial data showed patients lost 11.8% of body weight in 36 weeks on its GLP-1 pill elecoglipron. The results trail Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (17% loss) and Lilly's Foundayo (12.4% loss), positioning AstraZeneca as a late entrant in a field projected to reach $200 billion by 2030.

The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical will now test its drug in phase 3 trials for obesity patients with and without type 2 diabetes. Pfizer entered the arena with a $10 billion acquisition of Metsera, while Roche announced its experimental enicepatide injectable delivered 22.7% weight loss after 48 weeks, intensifying competition in this lucrative therapeutic area.

Eli Lilly, the current market leader, unveiled data showing its next-generation drug retatrutide helped patients with knee pain and sleep apnea. "Competition is what has fuelled scientific progress," said Lilly executive Kenneth Custer. Multiple approaches—pills, injections, and combination therapies—now vie for dominance as pharmaceutical giants invest billions in the expanding weight-loss market.