📡 Global Peptide R&D Pipeline Overview
Analysis of the global peptide drug R&D pipeline as of Q2 2025: over 400 active candidate molecules spanning from preclinical through registration, with more than 40 candidates in Phase III.
1. Pipeline Overview (by Stage)
| Development Stage |
Candidate Count |
Share |
YoY Growth (2024→2025) |
Notes |
| Preclinical |
~220 |
52% |
+12% |
Active target discovery; PDCs and cyclic peptides account for most incremental growth |
| Phase I |
~85 |
20% |
+8% |
Primarily oncology and metabolic pipelines |
| Phase II |
~60 |
14% |
+5% |
GLP-1 dual-target candidates entering densely |
| Phase III |
~42 |
10% |
+15% |
Multiple GLP-1 generics and multi-target innovative drugs |
| Registration / Pre-Registration |
~8 |
2% |
+20% |
2025–2027 expected to see approval peak |
| Marketed (New Indication Expansion) |
~15 |
4% |
NL |
Drug repurposing / PK optimization |
2025 Pipeline Characteristics
- Total pipeline grew ~11% between 2024–2025, the fastest growth rate in 5 years
- GLP-1 class accounts for 45% of new pipeline additions, including multi-target (GIP/GLP-1, GCG/GLP-1) innovative drugs and biosimilars
- Cyclic peptide/PEGylated pipeline grew 18%, representing technology platform-driven incremental growth
2. Therapeutic Area Distribution
| Therapeutic Area |
Pipeline Share |
Major Tracks |
Growth Trend |
Representative Candidates |
| Oncology |
35% |
PDC, SSTR, GnRH, immune checkpoint inhibitors |
🟢 Stable |
177Lu-DOTA-TATE and multiple others |
| Metabolic Disease |
28% |
GLP-1, GIP/GLP-1, GLP-1/GCG, Amylin |
🔥🔥 Burst |
CagriSema, oral tirzepatide, etc. |
| Infectious Disease |
15% |
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), antiviral peptides |
🟡 Recovery |
Multiple next-generation cyclic lipopeptides |
| Cardiovascular / Renal |
8% |
Natriuretic peptides, ANP analogs |
🟡 Moderate |
Oral natriuretic peptides |
| Immunology / Inflammation |
7% |
Integrin antagonists, complement inhibitors |
🟢 Stable |
Multiple cyclic peptides |
| Gastrointestinal |
4% |
GC-C agonists, secretin |
🟡 Moderate |
Oral linaclotide analogs |
| Other |
3% |
Pain, CNS, rare diseases |
🟢 Growing |
κ-opioid receptor cyclic peptides |
3. Top 10 Indications
| Rank |
Indication |
Candidate Count |
2025E Market Size |
Key Catalyst |
| 1 |
Type 2 Diabetes |
~85 |
~$55B |
Oral GLP-1 generic launches |
| 2 |
Obesity/Overweight |
~50 |
~$40B |
Multi-target combination therapy clinical data |
| 3 |
Neuroendocrine Tumors |
~30 |
~$5B |
Next-generation SSTR antagonists |
| 4 |
Multiple Myeloma |
~20 |
~$30B |
Cyclic peptide/PDC conjugate novel drugs |
| 5 |
Drug-Resistant Infections |
~18 |
~$12B |
Novel cyclic lipopeptides |
| 6 |
Colorectal Cancer |
~15 |
~$25B |
PDC targeted therapy |
| 7 |
NASH / MASH |
~12 |
~$20B |
GLP-1 dual-target data readouts |
| 8 |
Cystic Fibrosis |
~10 |
~$12B |
Oral permeability-enhancing peptides |
| 9 |
Chronic Kidney Disease |
~8 |
~$15B |
GLP-1 CKD data |
| 10 |
Psoriasis / Autoimmune |
~7 |
~$25B |
Cyclic peptide immunosuppressants |
4. Key Catalyst Timeline 2025–2027
| Expected Timing |
Event |
Potential Impact |
Attention Level |
| 2025 Q4 |
Oral tirzepatide Phase III data readout |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🔴 Highest |
| 2025 Q4 |
CagriSema (cagrilintide + sema) obesity Phase III |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🔴 Highest |
| 2026 H1 |
Rybelsus® China patent expiry → generic applications surge |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🔴 Highest |
| 2026 H1 |
Multiple domestic GLP-1 oral generics submit NDAs |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🔴 Highest |
| 2026 H2 |
Tirzepatide China patent expiry → generic competition |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🔴 Highest |
| 2026 H2 |
First oral GLP-1/GIP dual-target Phase III completion |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🟡 High |
| 2026 H2 |
Oral PTH(1-34) Phase III data (osteoporosis) |
⭐⭐⭐ |
🟡 Medium |
| 2026 H2 |
Next-generation antimicrobial cyclic peptide Phase III data |
⭐⭐⭐ |
🟡 Medium |
| 2027 H1 |
Multiple GLP-1 biosimilars approved in US/EU |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🔴 Highest |
| 2027 Full Year |
PDC drugs (multiple oncology indications) dense Phase II–III data |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
🟡 High |
5. Key Phase III Candidate Drugs
| Candidate |
Company |
Indication |
Molecule Type |
Mechanism |
Projected Filing |
| CagriSema |
Novo Nordisk |
Obesity / Diabetes |
Combo: Amylin + GLP-1 |
Cagrilintide + Semaglutide |
2026 |
| Oral Tirzepatide |
Eli Lilly |
T2DM / Obesity |
Oral GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist |
Small molecule/peptide oral |
2026–2027 |
| Efdfedra |
eFFECTOR/Pfizer |
Oncology |
Cyclic peptide |
eIF4E inhibitor |
2026 |
| BI-456906 (oral) |
Boehringer/Zealand |
Obesity |
Oral GLP-1/GCG dual agonist |
Dual-target + oral |
2026–2027 |
| Pegozafermin |
89bio |
NASH |
PEGylated FGF21 analog |
FGF21R agonist |
2026 |
| Glepaglutide |
Zealand Pharma |
Short bowel syndrome |
GLP-2 long-acting analog |
GLP-2R agonist |
2026 |
| Vosoritide (oral) |
BioMarin |
Achondroplasia |
Oral CNP analog |
NPR-B agonist |
2026–2027 |
| PNT-001 |
Praedicium/Novartis |
Oncology |
Cyclic peptide PDC |
Microtubule inhibitor targeting |
2026 |
| LL-37 (derivative) |
Multiple |
Infection/Inflammation |
Antimicrobial peptide |
Immunomodulation + antimicrobial |
Phase II–III |
6. China vs Global Pipeline Comparison
| Metric |
Global |
China |
| Total Pipeline |
~420 |
~120 |
| Phase III and Above |
~50 |
~22 |
| GLP-1 Generic Pipeline |
~35 |
~18 |
| Innovative Target Pipeline |
~300 |
~40 |
| PDC/ADC Pipeline |
~35 PDC |
~15 PDC |
| Antimicrobial Peptide Pipeline |
~25 |
~5 |
| Global Share |
100% |
~28% |
Structural Characteristics of China's Pipeline
China's peptide pipeline is dominated by GLP-1 biosimilars/generics (approximately 45%), with relatively weak innovative target pipelines. However, in the PDC drug space, China's pipeline is rapidly catching up, with multiple CDMOs extending into innovative drug R&D.
📡 Pipeline Data Notes: This page's data is compiled from ClinicalTrials.gov, China's Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Publicity Platform, corporate announcements, and Cortellis databases. For in-depth competitor analysis of specific pipelines or CDMO technical service support, contact SENO Biotechnology for professional peptide CDMO service quotations → senopeptide.com/platforms/