ISSUE NO. 48 — The Evolving Landscape of Metabolic Research: From GLP-1 to Multifunctional Agonist Therapy
Approaching the topic from the perspective of an integrated drug development organization (DDO: CRO/CDMO) with decades of relevant experience, this article reviews the current status of the GLP-1 market and explores where we anticipate the metabolic research field will expand in the coming years.
In Issue 48 of The Altascientist, we explore:
- The evolution of GLP-1 therapies to multi-agonist incretin treatments
- The status of the GLP-1 market and where we see the field expanding in the coming years
- A case study demonstrating how Altasciences accelerated a recent early-phase GLP-1 program by six months compared to industry standard timelines.
The Evolution of Glp-1 Therapies to Multi-Agonist Incretin Treatments
The development of incretin-based therapies stemmed from the discovery of the “incretin effect” in the 1960s. The incretin effect was the discovery that oral glucose ingestion triggers significantly higher insulin secretion than intravenous glucose. This process, mediated by intestinal hormones—GIP (isolated in the 1970s) and GLP-1 (characterized in the 1980s)—enhances insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.
Research between the 1960s and 1980s revealed that the incretin effect is significantly impaired or lost in patients with T2D, highlighting its role in the disease's pathophysiology. These findings shifted the understanding of glucose metabolism from purely pancreatic control to include critical gut-pancreas signaling, paving the way for modern incretin-based therapies (DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists) and future generations of incretin-based therapeutics.
Looking Ahead: Glp-1 Combinations, Companion Molecules, and Multi-Agonist Incretin Therapies
Drug development stakeholders in weight loss and metabolic health are devoting significant resources to studies that combine GLP-1 receptor agonists with other companion molecules to amplify weight loss, increase energy expenditure or reduce muscle loss.
Incretin-based multi-agonists are a new generation of medications that activate two or more hormone receptors in a single molecule, providing superior metabolic benefits compared to traditional single-receptor drugs. Combining multiple receptor agonists can increase calorie burning in addition to reducing food intake, resulting in superior weight loss efficacy compared to GLP-1 alone.
As of February 2026, there were dozens of active clinical trials exploring multi-agonist incretin therapies, from early-phase pipeline to major Phase III programs. This surge in activity shows that 2025 to 2026 is the peak period for this drug class, and additional life-changing treatments are expected to become available in the near future.
Ongoing Research Goals for Incretin-Based Therapeutics
In addition to the growing interest in neurological effects, ongoing research on future GLP-1 therapeutics is focused on addressing multiple unmet needs, including improved tolerability, meaningful weight loss without sacrificing muscle, and more accessible dosing formats. Overcoming weight-loss plateaus is another research focus; in other words, addressing common reasons for treatment failures and diminished efficacy over time, which is a common challenge with currently approved therapies.
Altasciences’ Expertise in Glp-1 Research
At Altasciences, we don’t just support metabolic programs; we anticipate their evolving challenges. We have completed over 50 early-stage clinical trials involving anti-diabetic and hypoglycemic agents such as insulin, GLP-1, SGLT-2, and DPP-4. We support industry-leading timelines with world-class development across our nonclinical and clinical facilities, in addition to a strategic network of 350+ partner sites throughout North America. Our integrated model unites bioanalytical, nonclinical, and clinical capabilities, making us the ideal partner to advance your GLP-1 and metabolic therapies from first safety assessment to clinical POC with speed, efficiency, and full scientific integrity.
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