13 weight-loss drugs in the pipeline: What’s ahead for each

 More than a dozen experimental obesity drugs are working their way through clinical trials, and the last year has reshuffled the leaderboard: some candidates have advanced into pivotal phase 3 studies, others have won approval overseas and at least one program has been abandoned. 

Here’s a status check on 13 of the most closely watched drugs:

1. Aleniglipron

Structure Therapeutics’ oral GLP-1 pill posted its best data yet in phase 2 ACCESS II results, with the 180 mg dose producing 16.3% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 44 weeks — the highest reported to date for an oral GLP-1. After a positive end-of-phase 2 meeting with the FDA, the company dosed its first phase 3 patients in August in the newly named ACCOMPLISH program.

2. APHD-012

Aphaia Pharma’s gastric-bypass-mimicking glucose pill remains in phase 2. The company published phase 1 and 2 data in adults with prediabetes and diabetes, evaluating the formulation’s effect on oral glucose tolerance; weight-loss-specific phase 2 results are still pending.

3. ARD-101

Aardvark Therapeutics’ program has run into trouble. After reversible cardiac findings emerged in a healthy-volunteer study, the company paused its phase 3 HERO trial in Prader-Willi syndrome in February, and the FDA placed ARD-101 on clinical hold in May. Aardvark terminated the HERO and OLE trials in June and does not currently plan to resume them as designed. The related ARD-201 combination program remains on voluntary pause.

4. Amycretin

Novo Nordisk’s oral and injectable dual GLP-1/amylin agonist posted positive phase 2 results in type 2 diabetes in November 2025, prompting the company to expand its phase 3 program to include diabetes alongside previously planned obesity trials.

5. Retatrutide

Eli Lilly’s triple agonist delivered its first successful phase 3 readout in the TRIUMPH-4 knee osteoarthritis trial in December 2025, then followed with pivotal phase 3 obesity results from TRIUMPH-1 in May 2026 — up to 30.3% average body weight loss at two years, the highest reported to date among injectable obesity drugs in late-stage trials. Lilly has said seven more phase 3 readouts are expected in 2026. Demand has already outpaced the drug’s still-pending approval. Lilly confirmed to Becker’s that it created an expanded access program allowing physicians to request retatrutide for eligible patients before FDA approval.

6. CagriSema

Novo Nordisk submitted a new drug application to the FDA in December 2025 based on the REDEFINE program, with an approval decision expected by late 2026. In a subsequent head-to-head trial, REDEFINE 4, CagriSema failed to demonstrate noninferiority to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound for weight loss.

7. Ecnoglutide

Sciwind Biosciences’ drug has moved well beyond the “in talks to license” stage. The drug is now approved in China for both type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, with approvals granted in January and March 2026, respectively. Pfizer struck a deal worth up to $495 million for Chinese commercialization rights in February 2026. A head-to-head trial presented in June 2026 showed ecnoglutide produced 35% greater weight loss than semaglutide.

8. Mazdutide

Innovent Biologics’ dual GCG/GLP-1 agonist, licensed from Eli Lilly for the Chinese market, is now approved in China for both chronic weight management and type 2 diabetes glycemic control, with approvals granted in June and September 2025, respectively. No FDA submission has been announced, and U.S. development remains in earlier-stage trials.

9. Survodutide

Boehringer Ingelheim’s program has advanced substantially. The phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-1 obesity trial posted positive topline results in April 2026 with up to 16.6% weight loss at 76 weeks. The FDA has also granted breakthrough therapy designation for a MASH indication, with two phase 3 liver trials underway.

10. VK2735

Viking Therapeutics completed enrollment in both of its phase 3 obesity trials — VANQUISH-1 with roughly 4,500 patients in November 2025 and VANQUISH-2 with roughly 1,000 patients with type 2 diabetes in March 2026. An oral phase 3 program is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

11. MariTide

Amgen’s monthly injectable has moved into its phase 3 MARITIME program, which is actively enrolling patients for chronic weight management. Additional phase 3 studies in cardiovascular disease, heart failure and obstructive sleep apnea are also underway or planned for 2026.

12. PF-08653944 (berobenatide)

Pfizer’s once-monthly candidate posted positive phase 2b results in February 2026, and the company has since launched a broad phase 3 program, with 10 trials expected to advance in 2026. These include the pivotal VESPER-4 study and the newly initiated VESPER-6 trial testing monthly dosing in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

13. Eloralintide

Eli Lilly’s selective amylin agonist posted phase 2 results showing up to 20.1% weight loss at 48 weeks in November 2025 and has since moved into phase 3. A registered trial is testing the drug as an add-on therapy for patients on weekly incretin drugs who have not reached their weight goals.

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/glp-1s/13-weight-loss-drugs-in-the-pipeline-whats-ahead-for-each/