Jens Juul Holst, a professor at the University of Copenhagen and one of the inventors of the global weight-loss wonder drug, GLP-1 receptor agonists (commonly known as slimming injections), recently gave a talk in Taiwan outlining the future of GLP-1 therapies. Holst noted that as the demand for GLP-1 drugs rises worldwide, the original manufacturers are struggling to meet it. With the patent for GLP-1 medications set to expire as early as 2026, Taiwanese pharmaceutical companies such as ScinoPharm Taiwan, Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Center Laboratories, and Lotus Pharmaceutical are poised to enter the multi-billion-dollar market.
At the Tang Prize Foundation's 6th award ceremony held on the 27th, Holst, along with fellow inventors Joel F. Habener and Svetlana Mojsov, were recognized for their contributions to the development of GLP-1 drugs. While Holst attended the event in person, Habener and Mojsov joined via video conference to discuss the history and future potential of GLP-1 medications.
Habener emphasized that GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective in controlling type 2 diabetes, obesity, and reducing cardiovascular risk. With over 2.2 billion people affected by these three major diseases globally, the drug has proven easy to test in large clinical trials. Currently, GLP-1 drugs are being explored for additional indications, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, colorectal cancer, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, kidney failure, and addiction, signaling significant future growth for the GLP-1 market.
Holst pointed out that the demand for GLP-1 medications is so great among patients with metabolic syndrome worldwide that even large pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly cannot meet the global demand. The good news is that the patent for these medications is set to expire as early as 2026, allowing more companies to begin mass production. Additionally, small-molecule chemical versions of GLP-1 drugs are being developed, which will further ease production and reduce costs.
Wen-Chang Chang, convener of the Tang Prize Foundation's Biopharmaceutical Science Award, revealed that several Taiwanese companies, including ScinoPharm, are prepared to enter mass production of GLP-1 raw materials when patents expire. ScinoPharm plans to focus on the GLP-1 active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) market, while Polaris Pharmaceuticals has successfully developed multi-peptide synthesis technology to capture opportunities in the GLP-1 weight loss market. Center Laboratories’s subsidiary has also developed an oral peptide drug platform and licensed its first product to an international pharmaceutical company in June. Additionally, Lotus Pharmaceutical has launched the weight-loss drug Qsymia in Korea and is collaborating with international pharmaceutical companies to develop a generic version of GLP-1 drug Semaglutide Injection for the Southeast Asian market.
In parallel with Holst’s visit to Taiwan, several Taiwanese biotech companies have announced new weight-loss drug development plans. Immunwork, a joint venture of Ta Ya Electric Wire and Cable, Center Laboratories, and CDIB Capital Group, is developing the new peptide weight-loss drug TE-8105, which is expected to complete Phase I clinical trials next year. Meanwhile, Oneness Biotech has developed the nucleic acid weight-loss drug SNS851, with plans to begin human trials next year.
Immunwork, founded by Tse-Wen Chang, Taiwan’s "father of antibodies," announced earlier this year that TE-8105 is targeting the type 2 diabetes and weight-loss markets. Its dosage can be halved compared to Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 drugs, and the effects last two weeks, longer than those of the original drug. Immunwork plans to start Phase I trials in Australia and aims to complete the trial next year but intends to keep the drug’s development in Taiwan rather than licensing it to international pharmaceutical companies.
Oneness Biotech also recently announced its new antibody drug SNS851, dubbed the "Happy Slim" drug, which aims to rival the slimming injection. Oneness plans to launch human clinical trials next year. According to Oneness, unlike slimming injections, SNS851 can regulate the body’s energy balance without causing muscle loss or appetite suppression, achieving weight loss by increasing basal metabolic rate. International media reports have highlighted that the future of weight-loss drug development focuses on maintaining muscle mass, positioning this as a key battleground.
Regarding concerns about muscle loss associated with GLP-1 slimming injections, Holst acknowledged during his visit that patients using GLP-1 drugs for obesity do experience a reduction in both muscle and fat as they lose weight. He explained that this is a natural consequence of decreased appetite and noted that when patients regain weight after stopping GLP-1 treatment, they tend to regain more fat than muscle. To maintain muscle mass, Holst emphasized the importance of regular exercise alongside treatment.
Resource (mandarin): 「瘦瘦針」專利2026年到期 多家台廠搶攻千億減重商機
