The FDA has some big verdicts lined up in the second quarter, including one for a closely watched obesity drug that many anticipate will further intensify competition in weight loss.

Original title: “6 FDA Decisions To Watch in Q2 2026”

While participants on a lower dose of Wave Life Sciences’ RNA therapy lost 5.3% total fat at the six-month mark, those receiving the higher dose saw a less than 1% drop at three months.

Original title: “Wave Stock Cut in Half on Underwhelming Higher Dose Obesity Data”

Wave’s drug, which is meant to improve body composition, disappointed investors but was defended by analysts. Elsewhere, Kodiak’s revived vision loss treatment succeeded in a second Phase 3 trial.

Original title: “Wave crashes on obesity drug update; Kodiak’s reboot pays dividends”

This year's catalysts in the space include a near-term FDA decision on Eli Lilly’s oral challenger to the new Wegovy pill. Looking further ahead, Novo Nordisk is expecting more clinical data for next-gen weight loss asset CagriSema, which recently lost a head-to-head battle with Lilly’s Zepbound.

Original title: “Despite Novo's Robust Oral Wegovy Launch, Access Remains a Challenge for Obesity Drugs”

Aardvark Therapeutics’ obesity asset is based on its lead molecule, which in February was linked to reversible heart safety signals in a healthy volunteer study.

Original title: “Aardvark Pauses 2 Obesity Trials, Reveals New Details on Cardiac Concerns”

Imcivree’s approval in a type of obesity driven by brain injury could unlock an opportunity Wall Street analysts believe to be worth more than $1 billion.

Original title: “Rhythm obesity drug wins broader use from FDA”

The clearance, issued 54 days after an approval submission, gives Novo another chance to claw back market share from Eli Lilly.

Original title: “Novo uses FDA voucher to win speedy approval of higher-dose Wegovy”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new higher dose (7.2 mg) of Wegovy (semaglutide) injection for weight loss and long-term maintenance of weight loss for certain adult patients.

Original title: “FDA Approves Fourth Product Under National Priority Voucher Program, Higher Dose Semaglutide”

Retatrutide, a possible advance on GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound, significantly cut blood sugar and body weight in the study, a sign it might be similarly impactful against obesity.

Original title: “Lilly’s three-pronged obesity drug hits goal in large diabetes trial”

Heath Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to overhaul vaccine policy are likely illegal, a Massachusetts District Court Judge ruled; Structure’s GLP-1 weight loss pill succeeds in Phase 2 while Rhythm’s Phase 3 basket trial fails to find the beat; Eli Lilly warns of potential safety risks of taking compounded tirzepatide, and Novo Nordisk is hit with an FDA warning letter regarding adverse events potentially linked to Ozempic.

Original title: “Kennedy’s Vaccine Agenda Stalled, Structure’s ‘Competitive’ Obesity Pill, Novo’s Warning Letter”

While Johnson & Johnson retains the top revenue rank across the major pharma companies, Eli Lilly last year established itself as the clear leader in the obesity market, in the process capturing investors’ attention and enthusiasm.

Original title: “J&J Reigns as Top Pharma by Revenue While Lilly Leapfrogs on Strong Obesity Sales”

renal outcomes of glp 1 receptor agonists and tirzepatide across ckd stages and metabolic phenotypes type 2 diabetes and or overweight obesity a scoping review

Original title: “Renal Outcomes of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Tirzepatide Across CKD Stages and Metabolic Phenotypes (Type 2 Diabetes and/or Overweight/Obesity): A Scoping Review.”

Testing revealed weight loss effects some Wall Street analysts believe compare favorably to Lilly’s orforglipron, which regulators could approve within weeks.

Original title: “Structure’s GLP-1 pill shows ‘best-in-class’ potential in obesity trial”

Structure Therapeutics’ oral obesity drug elicited a placebo-adjusted weight loss of 16.3% at 44 weeks in a Phase 2 trial. The biotech is planning to launch a late-stage program for the drug later this year.

Original title: “Structure Climbs on ‘Highly Competitive’ Profile for Weight Loss Pill”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled "Medical Devices with Indications Associated with Weight Loss--Premarket Considerations." This guidance document provides recommendations regarding non-clinical testing and clinical study design for medical devices with indications for use associated with weight loss to support premarket submissions. The guidance also includes discussion on how FDA considers the benefit-risk analysis to s

Original title: “Medical Devices With Indications Associated With Weight Loss-Premarket Considerations; Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; Availability”

The Zepbound developer is joining other drugmakers’ rush into China as it plans to boost its oral solid dosage supply chain to support the launch of its obesity pill orforglipron.

Original title: “Lilly unveils $3 billion production expansion in China”

Orforglipron, Eli Lilly’s oral obesity drug, is under FDA review with a decision expected in April. The pharma has also filed for marketing authorization for the pill in China.

Original title: “Lilly Pumps $3B Into China To Boost Supply of Weight Loss Pill”

AbbVie’s foray into the obesity space is successful so far, analysts agree, as amylin analog ABBV-295 elicited as much as 9.73% weight loss at 13 weeks in the multiple ascending dose portion of a Phase 1 trial.

Original title: “AbbVie’s Amylin Candidate ‘Competitive’ in Early-Stage Trial”

The companies have been embroiled in a row about compounded GLP-1 drugs that escalated to a lawsuit last month. The legal action has now been dropped and the former adversaries have struck a deal that could increase access to Novo’s obesity medicines.

Original title: “Novo Nordisk Agrees To Sell GLP-1 Drugs Via Hims & Hers, Ending Dispute”

The agreement ends a messy dispute that began when the telehealth firm attempted to sell a compounded form of Novo’s Wegovy pill at a cheaper price.

Original title: “Novo, Hims reach deal to sell GLP-1 drugs together”