Bullstory Research July 27, 2026
2026 Healthcare and bio investment: GLP-1 Where will the next blockbuster come from after that?
Key takeaways
GLP-1 market 2025 in 500 surpassed the billion-dollar mark. 2026 In the year 3 the competitive landscape changes with oral new drugs, triple agonists, and new entrants, and Roche's Alzheimer's
GLP-1 obesity treatments had already passed 2025 in market size by the year 500 billion dollars. The issue starts now. 2026 By the year , new entrants could begin to enter in earnest, shaking the positions of the existing leaders. At the same time, clinical results that could reshape the field are expected to pour in from Alzheimer’s and gene-editing therapies. Which stocks benefit, and which are pushed aside, needs to be sorted out now.
GLP-1: growth continues, but competition changes
The market structure led by Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy will begin to wobble from the year 2026. AbbVie (Amgen), Pfizer, and Roche are preparing to enter as new players.
Eli Lilly is nearing FDA approval for the oral GLP-1 therapy Orforglipron. So far, all GLP-1 treatments have been injectable, but if they shift to an oral drug, medication convenience will change completely. Novo Nordisk is responding in a different way. Its strategy is to raise weight-loss efficacy to 25% with the next-generation triple agonist CagriSema.
It is interesting that the two companies hold different cards. Which strategy will work in the market becomes clear within 2026 years.
Alzheimer’s: a third challenger arrives
Following Biogen’s lecanemab and Eli Lilly’s donanemab, 2026in that year, Roche’s Trontinemab will 3announce its phase three clinical results.
The key to Trontinemab is blood-brain barrier (BBB, a structure that protects the brain but also prevents drugs from passing through easily) permeability technology. Data show that brain penetration is several times higher than with conventional antibodies.10The more effectively a drug is delivered into the brain, the greater the potential treatment effect.
As the timing of the results announcement approaches, stock price volatility may increase. Clinical results are reflected quickly, whether successful or unsuccessful.
Gene editing therapy: the first commercialization case has emerged
CRISPR Therapeutics’ Exagamglogene autotemcel has been successfully commercialized as a treatment for sickle cell disease. This is the first case in which gene-editing technology has begun to be used in actual patient treatment.
2026In that year, the scope of application is expected to expand to multiple sclerosis, 1and type one diabetes. The key issue is the speed at which a technology proven in one disease spreads to other diseases.
2026Which healthcare investment stocks to watch this year
| Nature | Stock | Key reason |
|---|---|---|
| Stable core | Eli Lilly ([LLY]) | GLP-1 market 1leader, with an oral new-drug pipeline |
| Growth | Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) | Strong pain and genetic disease pipeline |
| High risk, high return | Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) | Leading in in vivo gene editing, directly administered in the body |
The healthcare sector is relatively less sensitive to interest-rate changes, and structural demand from an aging population supports it. It is one of the few sectors that combines defensiveness and growth potential.
Depending on which pipeline actually gets approved, the gap between stocks can widen significantly.
Frequently asked questions
GLP-1 Which therapeutic area is most likely to produce the next blockbuster after that?
Alzheimer's and gene editing. Alzheimer's is backed by brain-penetration technology, and gene editing by the commercialization case of ExaCel.
GLP-1 besides 2026what new drug modalities and investment points are worth watching?
Gene editing and brain-penetrant antibodies. Approval and commercialization announcements and brain-penetration data trigger stock-price moves.
GLP-1How should a biotech ETF portfolio be constructed to reflect the spillover from GLP?
Core (Eli Lilly and other GLP-1 leaders), growth (Alzheimer's and gene-editing exposure), and high risk (early-stage biotech) for diversification.
Beyond next-generation diabetes and obesity, 2026what drug candidates are likely to be commercialized in that year?
Eli Lilly's orforglipron, Novo's CagriSema, Roche's trontinemab, and CRISPR's exa-cel are strong candidates.
From a clinical data perspective, 2026what is the checklist that could support expecting a share price rise in that year?
Clinical 3check key expected completion milestones, indicators for brain permeability, efficacy, and safety, and announcements of regulatory approval and commercialization plans.