Editor’s Note: Peptide drugs have emerged as vital therapies for various diseases and boomed over the past two decades. Since 2025, major breakthroughs have been achieved in metabolic diseases and other fields. WuXi TIDES, an integrated CRDMO platform under WuXi AppTec, provides end‑to‑end peptide synthesis services to accelerate innovative therapies to market. This article reviews key 2025 advances of peptide drugs in treating metabolic diseases.

According to incomplete statistics, around 100 peptide drugs have been approved globally, covering diabetes, obesity and other indications. In 2025, the R&D pipeline of peptide drugs keeps expanding, focusing on GLP‑1 and related multi‑target candidates. Mature oral and long‑acting formulation technologies further broaden their application scope.

In 2025, multiple peptide‑based therapies achieved breakthroughs for metabolic diseases, including amylin receptor agonists, GLP‑1‑related dual‑receptor/dual‑target agonists, for indications such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and MASH. In November, Eli Lilly announced that its investigational peptide therapy eloralintide (LY3841136) met the primary endpoint in Phase 2 clinical trials. Over 48 weeks, the treatment groups achieved an average weight reduction of 9.5%‑20.1%, significantly outperforming the placebo group’s 0.4%, and the company plans to initiate Phase 3 trials.

In the same month, Novo Nordisk released Phase 2 results of amycretin for type 2 diabetes, with a maximum 14.5% weight loss at week 36, improved HbA1c and good safety (once-weekly injection or daily oral). Phase 3 subgroup data of its cagrilintide showed 11.8% average weight loss at week 68, with 31.6% of participants losing ≥15%.

Among domestic firms, Innovent Biologics filed an NDA for mazdutide (9mg) in November; Phase 3 data showed 18.55% average weight loss at week 60 (44% ≥20%), and the drug is already approved in China. QL Biopharm’s once-monthly GLP-1RA zoviaglutide had 89.9%-97.1% of Phase 2 participants losing ≥5% weight by week 24.

Additionally, Sciwind’s enavoglutide (Phase 3, 15.4% weight loss at week 48, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology), Hengrui’s HRS9531 (NDA accepted), and Viking’s oral VK2735 (Phase 2, 12.2% max weight loss) made progress, along with other dual-target agonists and early pipelines.

Hundreds of global peptide pipelines focus on metabolic diseases, with researchers exploring MC4R, AMYR and other targets. However, peptide R&D and manufacturing face challenges like low stability and limited oral bioavailability, requiring high technical capabilities.

Leveraging its integrated end‑to‑end CRDMO model, WuXi AppTec supports partners across the full spectrum from R&D to commercialization. Its subsidiary WuXi TIDES has built a dedicated peptide CRDMO platform offering synthesis services for diverse peptides and related products. Going forward, guided by its core vision and global network, WuXi AppTec will keep advancing peptide‑based innovations to benefit patients faster.

Changsha Luocheng Trading Co., Ltd. is a specialized supplier of high-purity peptides for the cosmetic, wellness, and fitness industries. Our core products include cosmetic peptides, anti-aging peptides, weight management peptides, and muscle-building peptides – serving skincare brands, supplement formulators, and health-focused companies worldwide.