Vietnam is entering a new phase in the treatment of diabetes and obesity as GLP-1 receptor agonists become an increasingly important part of modern metabolic healthcare.
Although there is currently no independently published Vietnam-specific valuation for the overall GLP-1 Agonists Market, analysis of Vietnam’s diabetes treatment sector and global GLP-1 growth suggests the market could be worth approximately US$60–90 million in 2025, potentially reaching US$140–210 million by 2030.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medicines that mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide-1, a naturally occurring hormone involved in blood glucose regulation and appetite control. They help stimulate insulin release, suppress glucagon, slow gastric emptying and increase satiety.
Originally developed primarily for type 2 diabetes, the category has expanded rapidly into obesity management and is increasingly being studied or approved for broader cardiometabolic indications.
The market includes therapies based on:
- Semaglutide
- Liraglutide
- Dulaglutide
- Tirzepatide*
- Exenatide
- Lixisenatide
- Emerging oral GLP-1 therapies
- Next-generation dual and triple incretin agonists
*Tirzepatide is technically a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist but is commonly considered within the wider GLP-1/incretin market.
Several factors are likely to drive growth in Vietnam.
Diabetes prevalence remains a major underlying driver. As type 2 diabetes becomes more common, clinicians increasingly require therapies that improve glycaemic control while also addressing weight, cardiovascular risk and other metabolic complications.
Obesity represents an even larger potential growth opportunity.
Globally, GLP-1 medicines have moved rapidly from specialist diabetes therapies into mainstream obesity treatment. Grand View Research estimates that the global GLP-1 agonist weight-loss drugs market will reach US$48.8 billion by 2030, growing at approximately 18.5% annually between 2025 and 2030.
This shift is reshaping how clinicians approach obesity, increasingly treating it as a chronic metabolic disease rather than solely a lifestyle issue.
Cardiovascular benefits broaden the market
GLP-1 therapies are also gaining importance because their clinical benefits extend beyond glucose control and weight loss.
Several products have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits, which is encouraging wider use among patients with diabetes, obesity and elevated cardiovascular risk.
Research published in 2025 noted that GLP-1 receptor agonists are increasingly accepted by clinicians and patients because of their combined effects on glycaemic control, weight reduction and cardiovascular outcomes.
As Vietnam’s burden of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease rises, the ability to address several cardiometabolic risks with one therapeutic class could significantly expand future demand.
Oral GLP-1 therapies could accelerate adoption
One of the most important developments is the emergence of oral GLP-1 medicines.
Most established GLP-1 therapies have traditionally been injectable, which can limit adoption among some patients. Oral formulations could substantially broaden access by making treatment more convenient and reducing dependence on injection devices and cold-chain logistics.
The global market is already moving rapidly in this direction, with pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in oral and longer-acting formulations.
Global market already exceeds US$60 billion
The scale of international demand highlights the potential opportunity.
Grand View Research estimates that the global GLP-1 receptor agonist market reached US$66.4 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$185.3 billion by 2033, representing annual growth of 12.4%. North America currently dominates, but emerging markets are expected to account for an increasing share of future growth.
Other forecasts are even more bullish. Goldman Sachs Research expects the global anti-obesity drug market—dominated by GLP-1-based medicines—to reach approximately US$95 billion by 2030, while noting greater future penetration outside the United States.
Next-generation therapies expand the opportunity
The next wave of innovation is moving beyond conventional GLP-1 monotherapy.
Pharmaceutical companies are developing dual and triple receptor agonists targeting GLP-1 alongside GIP and glucagon pathways, with the aim of delivering greater weight loss and metabolic benefits.
Research is also expanding into areas including:
- Cardiovascular risk reduction
- Chronic kidney disease
- Metabolic liver disease
- Sleep apnoea
- Heart failure
- Neurodegenerative disease
If additional indications are approved, the addressable patient population could expand significantly.
Commercial implications for Vietnam
For Vietnam, growth in GLP-1 therapies creates opportunities beyond pharmaceutical sales alone.
The ecosystem includes cold-chain distribution, injectable-device technologies, patient-support programmes, digital diabetes management, remote monitoring, diagnostics and clinical research.
It also creates opportunities for private hospitals, endocrinology clinics, obesity-management centres and pharmacies as demand for structured long-term metabolic care increases.
Leading companies in the global market include Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Amgen and Roche, alongside a growing pipeline of biotechnology companies developing next-generation incretin therapies.
As Vietnam continues to expand access to innovative medicines and strengthen chronic-disease management, GLP-1 therapies are likely to become an increasingly important part of the country’s diabetes and obesity treatment landscape.
For pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, distributors, clinical research organisations and digital health businesses, Vietnam represents an early-stage but potentially fast-growing GLP-1 market, particularly as access broadens beyond diabetes into obesity and wider cardiometabolic care.