GLP-1 Demand Surge Reshapes Biologicals Market

GLP-1 Use Hits Record 11% of US Adults as Medicare Bridge Program Expands Access 

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States July 8, 2026, the share of U.S. adults using GLP-1 receptor agonist medications for weight loss has reached a record 11% equivalent to approximately 40 million people according to Gallup's National Health and Well-Being Index. The milestone coincides with the July 1 launch of the federal Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, a development that analysts expect to further accelerate adoption and materially reshape demand dynamics across the Biologicals Market, currently valued at USD 657.51 billion globally. 

GLP-1 use among U.S. adults has nearly quadrupled from 3% in 2024, based on a Gallup survey of 5,065 adults conducted between May 28 and June 5, 2026. The same survey found that 15% of respondents had used GLP-1 medications for weight loss at some point in their lives, underscoring the rapid normalization of these therapies within mainstream healthcare. 

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, administered by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), provides eligible Medicare Part D enrollees access to three approved GLP-1 therapies — Foundayo, Wegovy, and the Zepbound KwikPen — at a standardized $50 monthly copayment. The program, which runs through December 31, 2027, operates outside the standard Part D benefit structure, which has historically excluded drugs prescribed solely for weight loss. To qualify, enrollees must be 18 years of age or older and present a body mass index of 35 or higher, or a lower BMI paired with a qualifying comorbidity such as hypertension, prediabetes, or chronic kidney disease. 

The broader public health impact of rising GLP-1 adoption is already measurable. The U.S. adult obesity rate has declined from a 2022 peak of 39.9% to 36.4% in 2026, while diabetes diagnoses have held steady since 2023 following 15 consecutive years of increases, according to Gallup data. 

Key Highlights: 

• GLP-1 use among U.S. adults reached a record 11% in 2026, nearly four times the 3% recorded in 2024, according to Gallup's National Health and Well-Being Index 

• The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, effective July 1, 2026, provides eligible Part D beneficiaries access to Foundayo, Wegovy, and the Zepbound KwikPen at a $50 monthly copayment through December 31, 2027 

• The program fills a long-standing coverage gap, as standard Medicare Part D rules explicitly exclude drugs prescribed for weight loss 

• U.S. adult obesity rates have declined from a 2022 peak of 39.9% to 36.4% in 2026, coinciding with the sustained rise in GLP-1 adoption 

Analyst Insight: 

According to analysts at Next Move Strategy Consulting, sustained GLP-1 receptor agonist demand is the single largest growth driver of the global Biologicals Market, contributing an estimated +2.8 percentage points to the market's projected 9.7% CAGR through 2035. The Endocrine and Metabolic Disease therapeutic area anchored by GLP-1 franchise expansion is the fastest-growing segment within the market, forecast to advance at a 14.6% CAGR from 2026 to 2035. 

NMSC analysts note that the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program represents a structural expansion of the addressable patient population for GLP-1 biologics. Because Medicare Part D previously excluded weight-loss drugs from standard coverage, the 65-and-older demographic remained largely outside the commercial GLP-1 market. The Bridge program's $50 copayment structure and broad eligibility criteria are expected to accelerate adoption within this cohort, adding a meaningful new demand layer to an already high-growth franchise category. 

Industry Outlook: 

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program's launch marks a pivotal inflection point for the broader Biologicals Market. North America, which leads the global market with approximately 44% revenue share and an estimated USD 290.00 billion in 2026 market value, is positioned to capture the largest share of this demand expansion as GLP-1 franchise revenue continues to scale across both commercial and government-funded channels. 

The global Biologicals Market is projected to grow from USD 657.51 billion in 2025 to USD 1,659.47 billion by 2035, with GLP-1 franchises and biosimilar-eligible reference products identified as the most compelling areas for capital allocation over the forecast period. The Recombinant Proteins and Peptides segment which encompasses GLP-1 therapies is forecast to expand at a 10.8% CAGR from 2026 to 2035, outpacing the broader market average. 

As oral GLP-1 formulations such as Foundayo gain traction and Medicare coverage removes a longstanding access barrier for older patients, the structural demand base for GLP-1 biologics is expected to widen further. Manufacturers that can scale production capacity and secure formulary positioning within the Medicare Part D ecosystem will be best placed to capture the next phase of GLP-1 market growth through the remainder of the decade. 

Source: Ophthalmology Advisor

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Prepared By: Sanyukta Deb