The GLP-1 drug boom (2017–present)
Semaglutide — sold as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity — became among the best-selling drug classes in history, turning GLP-1 receptor activation into a massive pharmaceutical franchise.
GLP-1 agonists reshaped diabetes and obesity treatment and generated tens of billions in annual sales worldwide.
The class validated GLP-1 signaling as a major therapeutic target and fueled research in both directions of the pathway — activation and blockade.
Avexitide targets the same receptor with the opposite action: blocking GLP-1 signaling instead of activating it. The GLP-1 drug boom shows how important this pathway is, and avexitide targets the excess GLP-1 signaling that causes post-bariatric hypoglycemia.
