Roche has unveiled its long-anticipated strategy for making its mark in the weight-loss market, declaring its intention to rank among the top three players in obesity treatments.
Speaking to investors at an event in London, Roche Pharma CEO Teresa Graham underscored the seriousness of this ambition. She outlined the company’s plan to establish a strong presence in obesity care by 2030, built on the strength of a competitive portfolio of products.
Graham stated that Roche possesses the necessary portfolio, the commercial strength and — above all — the determination to succeed.
Roche made its way into the obesity market in December 2023 through its $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics. Although one of Carmot’s preclinical obesity candidates was shelved earlier this year, the pharma giant confirmed plans to move forward with CT-388, an injectable dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, which is slated to advance into a phase 3 trial in the first half of 2026.
In parallel, Carmot’s oral GLP-1 candidate CT-996 — which generated encouraging early-stage results in 2024 — kicked off a phase 2 trial this year.
Roche also reinforced its weight-loss ambitions in March, signing a $1.6 billion upfront deal with Zealand Pharma to jointly develop and commercialize petrelintide, a long-acting amylin analog. Until today’s announcement, however, the company had yet to announce a comprehensive strategy regarding its obesity pipeline.
Addressing investors at the morning event, Graham noted that many had been anticipating this update. She summarized that Roche’s strengths — ranging from multiple promising pipeline assets, synergies across its portfolio, a global manufacturing network, operations in more than 150 countries, and the distinctive advantage of integrating pharma with diagnostics — collectively provide the foundation to become a leading player in obesity care.
Graham stressed that, if executed effectively, these strengths could help the firm secure a top-three position in the field. She concluded by affirming Roche’s commitment to achieving that goal.
Roche has projected that both CT-388 and petrelintide have the potential to achieve peak revenues exceeding $3 billion, according to its latest investor presentation.
A central element of the company’s strategy is to leverage synergies within its portfolio to stand apart in the crowded weight-loss market. For instance, pairing CT-388 with petrelintide could help tackle nausea, a leading reason why patients discontinue existing obesity therapies.
Additionally, Roche’s recent acquisition of 89bio introduces another opportunity: the potential integration of pegozafermin, a phase 3 candidate for fatty liver disease, which may also prove valuable in tackling obesity-related conditions.
The challenges of establishing and holding a leading position in the obesity market have become more visible in recent months. Novo Nordisk has undergone a significant reorganization following disappointing results from its next-generation obesity pipeline, while Pfizer came close to stepping away from the field entirely.
Yet, the strong appeal of this therapeutic area for large pharmaceutical players was emphasized when Pfizer announced it would renew its commitment to obesity treatments by acquiring Metsera, a company developing clinical-stage incretin and amylin drug candidates.
Looking forward, Roche aims to differentiate itself in a fiercely competitive market through innovation, partnerships, and careful execution of its pipeline. The integration of its diagnostics expertise with its pharmaceutical business may also provide unique advantages in patient monitoring and treatment personalization.
Industry analysts suggest that Roche’s multi-pronged approach — combining GLP-1 receptor agonists, amylin analogs, and potential metabolic disease treatments — positions the company strongly to meet rising global demand for obesity therapies. With obesity now recognized as a major health challenge worldwide, the company’s push into this field represents both a commercial opportunity and a chance to contribute to public health on a large scale.
If Roche successfully advances its late-stage clinical trials and secures regulatory approvals, it could establish itself as one of the most influential players in obesity care by the end of the decade.
