The global obesity market is one of the largest and fastest-growing opportunities in healthcare today. The market is projected to grow dramatically, reaching nearly $120 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs estimates. At present, Eli Lilly\u2019s LLY Zepbound and Novo Nordisk\u2019s NVO Wegovy are the most popular GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity. A key new entrant in the market is Pfizer\u00a0PFE, which is making an effort to become a leader in the next wave of obesity therapies.<\/p>\n
The November 2025 acquisition of obesity drugmaker, Metsera, brought Pfizer back into the lucrative obesity space after it scrapped the development of danuglipron,\u00a0a weight-loss pill, early in 2025.\u00a0 The Metsera deal added four novel incretin and amylin programs, which are expected to generate billions of dollars in peak sales if successfully developed and commercialized.<\/p>\n
A key candidate added from the Metsera deal is a potential first-in-class monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist, berobenatide, being developed in phase III to treat adults who are obese or overweight.<\/p>\n
While Zepbound and Wegovy are weekly injections, berobenatide starts off as a weekly injection and then switches to a monthly injection. Berobenatide is designed for monthly maintenance dosing.<\/p>\n
Data from phase IIb VESPER studies on berobenatide showed that the candidate delivers meaningful weight loss while maintaining a favorable tolerability profile following the transition from weekly to monthly dosing. Pfizer is also studying berobenatide in combination with an ultra-long-acting amylin analog, PF’3945, for obesity.<\/p>\n
Pfizer plans an extensive phase III program for berobenatide during 2026. Pfizer plans to start more than 20 obesity studies in 2026, including 10 phase III studies for berobenatide for obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, including knee osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnea. Pfizer is targeting the first of a series of potential approvals for berobenatide in 2028.<\/p>\n
To expand its obesity pipeline, last year, Pfizer also in-licensed exclusive global\u00a0rights to develop YP05002, an oral small molecule GLP-1 RA for treating obesity from Chinese biotech YaoPharma.<\/p>\n
Can Pfizer Still Gain Obesity Share Despite Its Late Entry? <\/p>\n
Pfizer is a late entrant in the obesity market, which is heavily dominated by Lilly and Novo Nordisk. LLY and NVO already have a massive first-mover advantage in the obesity space and enjoy strong brand recognition.<\/p>\n
Moreover, to maintain their prowess in the lucrative obesity market, both Novo Nordisk and Lilly are developing several next-generation, more powerful and more convenient GLP-1\u2013based treatments, including oral options and multi-acting candidates. Both Lilly and Novo Nordisk have also launched oral GLP-1 pills for obesity called Foundayo and Wegovy, respectively.<\/p>\n
Story Continues <\/p>\n
The obesity pipeline is rapidly evolving beyond traditional GLP-1 therapies. Lilly’s next-generation candidate, retatrutide, which targets GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously, has demonstrated approximately 28% weight loss in late-stage studies, an efficacy outcome previously achievable only through bariatric surgery.<\/p>\n
Pfizer currently trails Lilly and Novo Nordisk by several years in the obesity space. However, the obesity market is huge and can support multiple players, and even a modest market share could translate into billions of dollars in annual revenues.<\/p>\n
If Pfizer\u2019s berobenatide succeeds and monthly dosing or better tolerability differentiates it from Zepbound\/Wegovy, or if its next-generation oral programs prove competitive, it can take a slice of the obesity space in the long term.<\/p>\n
Competition Heating Up in the Obesity Space <\/p>\n
While Lilly and Novo Nordisk currently dominate this space, smaller biotechs like Structure Therapeutics and Viking Therapeutics are also developing oral GLP-1 drugs for treating obesity.<\/p>\n
Amgen is also developing MariTide, a GIPR\/GLP-1 receptor, as a single dose in a convenient autoinjector device with a monthly and maybe less frequent dosing.<\/p>\n
Others, such as Roche, AstraZeneca AZN and AbbVie, have strengthened their obesity pipelines through licensing deals and acquisitions involving smaller biotechs. AbbVie entered the obesity field by licensing GUB014295 from Gubra. Roche strengthened its obesity presence through the acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics and its obesity assets, such as CT-388, as well as the exclusive collaboration with Zealand Pharma.<\/p>\n
AstraZeneca\u2019s most important obesity candidate is oral GLP-1 receptor agonist elecoglipron, which it licensed from Eccogene in 2023.\u00a0 AstraZeneca plans to begin an extensive phase III program on elecoglipron for obesity and type II diabetes soon. AstraZeneca’s second major obesity program is AZD6234, a once-weekly amylin analog currently in phase II development.<\/p>\n
PFE\u2019s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Pfizer stock has risen 4.1% so far this year compared with an increase of 3.7% for the industry.<\/p>\n
Zacks Investment Research <\/p>\n
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research<\/p>\n
From a valuation standpoint, Pfizer appears attractive relative to the industry and is trading below its five-year mean. Going by the price\/earnings ratio, Pfizer\u2019s shares currently trade at 8.86 forward earnings, significantly lower than 17.49 for the industry as well as the stock\u2019s five-year mean of 9.52.<\/p>\n
Zacks Investment Research <\/p>\n
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research<\/p>\n
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share has risen from $2.98 to $2.99, while that for 2027 has risen from $2.81 to $2.86 over the past 60 days.<\/p>\n
Zacks Investment Research <\/p>\n
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research<\/p>\n
Pfizer has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see\u00a0the complete list of today\u2019s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.<\/p>\n
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report<\/a><\/p>\n AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a><\/p>\n Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a><\/p>\n Novo Nordisk A\/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a><\/p>\n Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report<\/a><\/p>\n This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).<\/a><\/p>\n