In this article, we will be taking a look at the 10 best weight loss drugs to buy according to analysts.

Global Surge in Obesity Medication Market Driven by GLP-1 Drugs

Most people have tried to include fitness and weight loss into their everyday routines. Due to the immediate physical and psychological benefits of increasing one’s fitness, the weight loss and fitness sector is rather large globally. The WHO estimates that over one billion individuals worldwide—650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children—are obese. A brand-new class of weight-loss drugs that don’t require rigorous diets or exercise routines appears to be ground-breaking. These innovative drugs can help people who are overweight or obese shed 15% to 20% of their body weight. According to Andy Acker, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors, “This may be the largest opportunity we’ve ever seen in the pharmaceutical industry.”  Medication for weight loss is very popular. Investors are comparing the US top in weight-loss medications with the leading in artificial intelligence chips.

Morgan Stanley Research has increased its prediction for the global market for obesity medications from $77 billion to $105 billion by 2030 in light of this demand increase. In 2023, brand-name obesity drugs brought in almost $6 billion.

According to Forbes, Semaglutide, a market leader for obesity drugs and the generic version of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, was the most prescribed Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 GLP-1 agonist in 2023. Nearly 88% of all new prescriptions were for it. Tirzepatide, Liraglutide, and Semaglutide are the only three GLP-1 weight-control drugs currently approved by the FDA.

According to JP Morgan Research, obesity and diabetes will drive the GLP-1 market’s growth to $100 billion by 2030. By that year, there may be 30 million GLP-1 users in the US or around 9% of the total population. Increased demand for obesity medications will benefit some industries, such as biotech, while posing problems for others, such as the food and beverage sector.

Chris Schott, a Senior Analyst with expertise in the U.S. Diversified Biopharma sector, claims:

“GLP-1s have been used to treat T2D since 2005, starting with the approval of Byetta, with follow-on products continually improving on efficacy. The most recent, Ozempic and Mounjaro, offer significant advantages over previous products and have accelerated class growth,” “Indeed, the newest generations of GLP-1s and combos lead to 15-25+% weight loss on average, well above prior generations of products.”

Challenges and Accessibility Issues in the GLP-1 Weight Loss Medication Market

The latest generation of GLP-1 medications are being hailed by some as “miracle drugs” that can cure obesity. However, not all obese persons can utilize GLP-1s due to their high cost and restricted insurance coverage. At the current rate, treating 40% of obese Americans would cost more than $1 trillion annually, according to Jonathan Gruber, an economics professor and the chairman of MIT’s economics department. That is nearly equal to what the government spends on Medicare as a whole. That is a startling amount.

The usage of GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide, for weight loss has increased over the past decade, whereas among those with type 2 diabetes, it has decreased by roughly 10%, per a report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The prolonged medicine shortage that results could restrict diabetics’ access to the treatments, the experts caution. As the need for obesity drugs rises, it is imperative to guarantee that diabetic patients have access to GLP-1 medicines, stressed Dr. Yee Hui Yeo, a clinical fellow in Cedars-Sinai’s Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The FDA says the shortages are a result of rising demand. The GLP-1 medication scarcity is a “major public health concern” that is unlikely to be addressed in 2024, according to the European Medicines Agency, suggesting that the shortages are not limited to the US. NPR reports that some people with diabetes have had to cut back on the number of drugs they can take due to shortages that have made it difficult for them to have their prescriptions filled.

Julia Angeles of Baillie Gifford, Debra Netschert of Jennison Investments, and Gentry Lee of Fayez Serofim were among the panelists on “Weighing the Future of Obesity Drugs,” which discussed the potential of GLP-1 medications, which were initially developed to treat diabetes but are now being used to treat obesity. The evolution of GLP-1 medication delivery from weekly dosages to several daily injections was also noted by Netschert, who also emphasized current attempts to further reduce injection frequency and minimize adverse effects. Notwithstanding their remarkable effectiveness, 1.5 million of the 110 million eligible patients in the US are currently undergoing treatment with GLP-1 drugs, according to Netschert, because of supply constraints.

In their dispute over who should pay, Angeles claimed that the majority of patients paid cash, while Netschert cited large insurance and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements. Up to 700 million individuals worldwide may need these drugs outside of the United States, according to Netschert. Notably, the panel discovered that the UK had the fastest approval rate of GLP-1 drugs of any nation, demonstrating the recognized worth of these drugs. In general, UK payors are strict.

Our Methodology 

For this article, we selected stocks that demonstrated over 10% analyst upside, had a market cap above $2 billion and were backed by strong institutional ownership. We then ranked these stocks based on their price target upside.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Here is our list of the 10 best weight loss drug stocks to buy according to analysts.

10. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Price Target Upside: 20.92%

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) develops and sells prescription medications across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. The company is notable for its innovative approach to obesity treatment, with its experimental drug AZD5004 showing promise as an oral GLP-1 receptor antagonist.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)’s lead candidate for weight loss treatment is AZD5004, an oral GLP-1 receptor antagonist acquired from Eccogene in 2023. In Phase I trials, it showed promising results, with type 2 diabetes patients losing an average of 5.8% of their weight over four weeks. AZD5004 is currently in Phase 2b trials for obesity and type 2 diabetes, with results expected in late 2025 and early 2026. The drug is generally well-tolerated, though some gastrointestinal side effects have been noted at higher doses. Its target market includes obese patients with type 2 diabetes, positioning it as one of the best weight loss drug stocks.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is also advancing AZD6234, a long-acting amylin receptor agonist, designed to manage appetite and slow gastric emptying. Early trials showed a significant reduction in body weight compared to a placebo, with no major side effects. AZD6234 is in Phase 2 and 2b trials and is aimed at individuals who cannot tolerate existing GLP-1 obesity treatments.

The company is exploring combination therapies, such as AZD6234 with AZD9550, a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist, for a once-weekly treatment. Additionally, AZD5004 may be combined with other drugs like Farxiga and AZD0780 to improve efficacy.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is further strengthening its position in the weight loss market by investing $80 million in SixPeaks Bio, a startup developing a weight loss antibody that preserves muscle mass. The company has an option to acquire SixPeaks once it reaches the investigational new drug filing stage.

9. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Price Target Upside: 21.37% 

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), standing ninth among the best weight loss drugs to buy according to analysts, is a global pharmaceutical company specializing in innovative medicines, vaccines, and healthcare products sold worldwide. While traditionally focused on various medical conditions, the company is now entering the obesity treatment market with danuglipron, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. This positions the company as a potential competitor in the rapidly growing weight loss drug sector, attracting significant investor interest.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is focusing on oral GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, aiming to provide a convenient alternative to injectables. Its lead candidate, danuglipron, is being developed as a once-daily pill after discontinuing the twice-daily version due to side effects. A dose optimization study is planned for late 2024 following promising Phase 2b results showing 8%-13% weight reduction. Additionally, the corporation is advancing other weight loss drugs, including a once-daily GLP-1 pill in Phase 1 and a GIP inhibitor set for Phase 2 trials in 2024.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is prioritizing oncology for future growth, aiming to add blockbuster drugs by 2030. It invested $43 billion in acquiring Seagen to strengthen its pipeline and may pursue further acquisitions. Management projects 10%-18% earnings growth in 2025, with analysts estimating 14% annual growth over the next 3-5 years. The company also offers a strong 6.3% dividend yield, with the dividend recently increased by 2.4%, making it a top vaccine stock choice among hedge funds.