The GLP-1 drug market is in a phase of explosive growth, with the scope of indications continuously expanding. Amgen (AMGN), driven by diversified growth drivers, a deep pipeline, and a stable dividend policy, demonstrates long-term investment value. Regeneron (REGN), on the other hand, is driving a performance rebound through Eylea HD and Dupixent, while its pipeline candidates Olatorepatide and a muscle-preservation drug further enhance its competitive potential. Although Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) currently dominate the market, Amgen and Regeneron, with their differentiated strategies and product advantages, also deserve close attention from investors.
Amgen has performed well this year, with its stock price up 27% year-to-date. The company’s financial results have been quite strong, with second-quarter revenue increasing 10% year-over-year to $10.1 billion, and adjusted earnings per share of $6.29, up 4% from the same period last year.
If Amgen’s GLP-1 pipeline drug MariTide receives approval, the company’s outlook will become even brighter. The drug is currently in Phase 3 studies for weight management, diabetes, and multiple other indications. Should clinical trials proceed successfully, MariTide is expected to become a significant long-term growth driver. Notably, MariTide can be dosed monthly or even less frequently, offering a substantial convenience advantage over currently available anti-obesity treatments that require daily or weekly administration. Patients are willing to pay a premium for convenience, and that premium may come in the form of lower efficacy. This is precisely why, despite being less effective than injectable weight-loss regimens, oral drugs have achieved notable success in this field. A similar scenario could unfold for long-acting therapies like MariTide.
In addition to its products, Amgen also possesses a deep pipeline that should yield significant clinical progress in the coming years. The company is also a quality dividend stock, currently offering a forward yield of 2.4%, and has increased its dividend payout every year since initiating dividends in 2011. All these factors make Amgen a stock worth buying and holding.
Regeneron’s stock price trended lower in the first half of 2026, but has begun to rebound over the past two months. This is linked to improved financial performance—in the second quarter, the company’s revenue grew 17% year-over-year to $4.3 billion, with adjusted earnings per share of $14.29, an 11% increase from the prior year.
In the weight-loss market, Regeneron is developing Olatorepatide, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist licensed from a Chinese company. The drug’s prospects are highly promising—in a Phase 3 study conducted in China, Olatorepatide achieved an average weight loss of up to 19% over 48 weeks. Although cross-trial comparisons are always challenging (especially for trials conducted in different countries), it is worth noting that Zepbound, the market leader from Eli Lilly, achieved an average weight loss of 20.2% in its Phase 3 studies. Olatorepatide may prove comparable to the current market leader.
Moreover, Regeneron is also developing a drug to help patients maintain muscle mass while losing weight with GLP-1 medications—something many find difficult to achieve. Taking the company’s overall business into account, Regeneron is well-positioned to be one of the winners in the GLP-1 boom, and its current stock price appears quite attractive.
