^{The Roche Holding AG headquarters on April 11, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland. | Sedat Suna | Getty Images News | Getty Images}

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Swiss drugmaker Roche is making a bold move into the booming weight-loss market, with its CEO pledging to secure a top-three global position by the end of the decade. The company’s experimental obesity drug CT-388 has now advanced to a pivotal Phase III trial, bringing Roche closer to competing head-to-head with market leaders Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Speaking at Roche’s Pharma Day in London, Teresa Graham, CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals, told investors, “I want you to know that I am serious about this goal. We know how to break into new markets.”

Pipeline Expansion and Strategic Acquisitions
CT-388, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, headlines Roche’s obesity drug pipeline. The treatment was acquired through Roche’s $2.7 billion purchase of U.S. biotech Carmot Therapeutics in late 2023. Alongside CT-388, Roche is also developing CT-996, a once-daily oral obesity treatment.

In addition, Roche is advancing Petrelintide, an amylin analog co-developed with Danish biotech Zealand Pharma in a $5.3 billion partnership. Amylin analogs are viewed as the next frontier in weight-loss innovation, and Roche hopes Petrelintide will complement its GLP-1 portfolio. According to Roche executives, the company is aiming for regulatory approvals and product launches across its obesity franchise by 2030, with the possibility of accelerating timelines if trial results are favorable.

To further strengthen its position, Roche recently announced the acquisition of U.S. biotech firm 89bio, adding potential treatments for liver diseases such as NASH, which could be marketed alongside weight-loss therapies to expand patient reach.

Competitive Landscape
The global obesity drug market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, fueled by rising obesity rates and unprecedented demand for GLP-1-based treatments such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. At present, Novo and Lilly dominate the sector, controlling the lion’s share of sales.

Barclays analyst Yihan Li noted that Roche’s ambition to become a top-three player is “potentially achievable” given its diversified pipeline but warned that the coming year would be critical as major trial results are released. “The obesity market is currently a duopoly. The key question is how quickly Roche can close the gap with Novo and Lilly,” Li said.

Meanwhile, rivals are moving quickly to maintain their lead. Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are investing heavily in oral obesity drugs and next-generation therapies, including their own amylin analogs, while fending off pressure from compounded pharmacies offering unauthorized versions of GLP-1 treatments.

Long-Term Outlook
Roche’s late entry into the obesity market may prove advantageous, allowing it to learn from competitors’ successes and setbacks. By focusing on both injectable and oral treatments, as well as complementary therapies for related metabolic conditions, the company is positioning itself as a comprehensive player rather than a single-drug challenger.

“We’re very much committed to bringing innovative treatments that can meet the diverse needs of patients struggling with obesity,” said Manu Chakravarthy, Roche’s global head of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism development.

If successful, Roche could emerge as a strong third force in one of the most lucrative pharmaceutical markets of the decade, reshaping the balance of power in the fight against obesity.

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