In recent years, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have assumed a much more prominent role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. While they have been involved in the clinical care of type 2 diabetes since 2005 due to their ability to increase insulin and decrease glucagon secretion (1), they have since been more widely approved for patients with obesity. They have also been linked to reduced rates of chronic kidney disease, strokes and cardiovascular death (2).
This has led to a rapid increase in demand for GLP-1 medicines. Research suggests that approximately 25 million Americans will be taking GLP-1 treatments by 2030, up from 10 million in 2025 and 5 million in 2023 (3). While this is encouraging news for patients and for drug developers, this current spike puts an immediate strain on manufacturing.
Drug developers must respond to this shift by finding ways to increase production while ensuring that quality is not compromised. This is not necessarily a straightforward task. Developers must devote added capacity to GLP-1 manufacturing without disrupting production of other therapies and ensure they meet all necessary regulatory requirements.
The GLP-1 ripple effect
Injectable treatments are used in a wide range of settings, from vaccines to biologics, fertility, oncology, autoimmune disease and chronic disease. As a result, they are highly valued by millions with varying conditions and treatment needs.
As the popularity of GLP-1s increases, competition for manufacturing capacity is intensifying. Supply models are not currently built to support the production levels required for mass-market obesity and diabetes care. While the industry can react in the short-term by diverting existing capacity to GLP-1 production, this directly impacts other injectable therapies on the market.
In addition to capacity, drug delivery formats also need to be considered. As GLP-1s are generally envisioned as an at-home therapy, they are designed with ease of use and self-administration in mind. This means they are often associated with more patient-friendly formats such as prefilled syringes and autoinjectors. This may not be the case with other injectable therapies – particularly those designed to be administered under clinical supervision. Therefore, manufacturing capacity must accommodate a variety of format needs while incorporating rigorous testing that ensures the drug can be delivered safely and has the intended therapeutic effect.
To support this mix of delivery formats and production demands, manufacturers must adopt processes that accommodate two tiers of manufacturing: one for high-volume GLP-1 production and another to support other injectable therapies. In an ideal world, the manufacturing partner should be able to support both flexibly and do so with minimal downtime and changeover.
Embracing modular scalability
Manufacturers are now investing in parallel filling lines that can handle different treatments, with more adaptable capabilities that support a variety of container types. This production can be carried out simultaneously, enabling them to meet demand more efficiently. These lines can be adjusted if manufacturers need to move from clinical to commercial-scale supply.
Just as importantly, these lines must be designed and configured within defined parameters to meet the handling requirements of each process. Manufacturers must maintain a strong focus on sterility and stability throughout drug handling to minimize the risk of contamination or batch loss. As compounds vary in their sensitivities and requirements, processes must be optimized to ensure consistent product quality.
The value of purpose-built capability
This is not the only factor that is encouraging manufacturers to invest in capacity and infrastructure. Regulatory changes such as the revised Annex 1 of the European Union’s good manufacturing practice (EU GMP) guidelines mean that manufacturers must now introduce more rigorous contamination control strategies (CCSs) to maintain drug sterility and protect patient safety.
To align with these new standards, many are adapting and upgrading their equipment and processes within their current infrastructure. However, those who are investing in purpose-built infrastructure unlock a number of advantages. Purpose-built facilities can be designed to offer the modularity and flexibility that is becoming increasingly synonymous with modern manufacturing, rather than being constrained by adapted facilities built to accommodate legacy requirements.
Manufacturers can adapt to changing demand, with faster changeovers and less idle time during tech transfer. They can also transition between different scales of production and offer better utilization of resources, which can streamline operations and put less pressure on supply chain needs.
Facilities designed with modern processes in mind are often already built to accommodate emerging regulatory requirements, with equipment such as isolators to minimize risk of contamination. Systems are also upgraded to make data analysis smoother at every stage in production, allowing teams to identify issues early, make strategic decisions and develop a much clearer picture of how to optimize processes.
The evolving CDMO role
GLP-1s are transforming demand for injectables worldwide, requiring drug developers to move quickly. This places greater emphasis on early manufacturing planning, particularly as formulations become more complex and drugs and devices must function together safely and reliably.
Early manufacturing input can help developers identify scale-up, device, sterility, and technology-transfer risks before processes become difficult or costly to change.
Ultimately, meeting demand for GLP-1 medicines will depend on capacity that is both scalable and flexible enough to support other injectable products. Manufacturers will need to balance speed and volume with product quality, regulatory compliance, and the wider needs of the injectable medicines market.
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References
- Hall et al., “Pharmacokinetics and clinical implications of semaglutide: A new glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist.” Clinical pharmacokinetics, 57, 1529–1538 (2018). DOI: 10.1007/s40262-018-0668-z.
- MJ Gonzalez-Rellan et al., “The expanding benefits of GLP-1 medicines.” Cell reports medicine, 6.7 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102214. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379125002873
- JP Morgan, “How demand for (and supply of) weight loss drugs is playing out in 2026.” Available at: https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/obesity-drugs.
