CDMOs Gear Up for Peptide Gold in Weightloss Race

As global demand spikes for next-generation weightloss and diabetes drugs, India's contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are swiftly positioning themselves to capture a larger slice of the peptide pie, buoyed by looming patent expiries, most notably that of semaglutide, the blockbuster GLP-1 receptor agonist.

- ANJALI SINGH

India is well placed for a central role in manufacturing GLP-1-based therapies such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, with the global market for these drugs expected to surpass $150 billion by 2030. The country's peptide CDMO segment, currently worth $80 million and accounting for just 3 percent of the $190 billion global market, is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 14 percent over the next five years. The growth momentum is unmistakable, said Nilaya Varma, co-founder and group CEO of consultancy Primus Partners.