Core Insights - Structure Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GPCR) ended 2025 positively, with shares rising significantly in December following strong mid-stage data for its weight loss drug, aleniglipron. The company aims to maintain this momentum into 2026 as it progresses in the anti-obesity market [1][7]. Pipeline Overview - Aleniglipron is a once-daily oral GLP-1 candidate that demonstrated a placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of 11.3% at the highest dose in a 36-week phase 2b study. An ongoing mid-stage study has shown even higher mean weight loss of up to 15.3% after 36 weeks. The discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 10.4% in the first study, which is typical for GLP-1 medications [4][5]. - Structure Therapeutics plans to initiate a phase 3 study for aleniglipron this year. Additionally, the company has other candidates in its pipeline, including ACCG-2671, an oral weight loss candidate that mimics the action of the amylin hormone [5]. Market Competition - Aleniglipron faces competition from at least two other oral weight loss medications expected to be approved by the time it reaches the market. The FDA has recently approved an oral formulation of Wegovy and is reviewing orforglipron, another oral medicine developed by Eli Lilly [6][7].

Core Insights - Eli Lilly has established itself as the leader in the weight loss market with its drug Zepbound, which is currently the best-selling medicine in this niche [1][2] - The demand for anti-obesity medicines is expected to rise significantly, and despite increasing competition, Eli Lilly is likely to maintain its top position [2] Company Developments - Zepbound has demonstrated high efficacy in weight management, but competitors are developing alternative formulations such as oral or monthly options to capture market share [3] - Eli Lilly is also advancing its pipeline with eloralintide, an investigational amylin agonist, which showed a 20.1% mean decrease in body weight in a phase 2 trial compared to 0.4% in the placebo group [5] - The company is still competitive in the market, as it continues to innovate and develop new therapies [6] Financial Performance - Eli Lilly's tirzepatide has surpassed Merck's Keytruda as the world's best-selling drug, generating approximately $10 billion in sales in the third quarter, with projections suggesting it could reach nearly $62 billion by 2030 [8] - The company's shares are trading at 27 times forward earnings, which is above the healthcare average of 17.4, indicating strong financial performance [7] Future Outlook - New weight loss medications, including orforglipron and retatrutide, are expected to further boost sales, with orforglipron on track to become one of the first approved oral GLP-1 therapies [9] - Eli Lilly's ongoing clinical and regulatory advancements in the rapidly growing therapeutic area of anti-obesity medicines suggest that the stock remains reasonably valued [10]