Living with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or cancer can transform ordinary days into exhausting ordeals – the unending cycle of monitoring blood sugar, the frustration of unyielding weight despite every effort, or the underlying anxiety of heart risks that threaten cherished time with loved ones. I've connected with numerous patients who voice these struggles: the weariness from daily medications, the sense of betrayal by one's own body. Yet, as we step into the final days of 2025, a wave of optimism is building in the pharmaceutical realm. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery's latest prediction for 2026's top-selling drugs reveals a dynamic shift toward metabolic and oncology breakthroughs, with China's advancements in GLP-1 therapies like semaglutide standing out as a beacon for more comprehensive, patient-focused care.

Visualize a treatment that extends beyond symptom control to multifaceted protection: balancing glucose levels, facilitating sustainable weight reduction, and fortifying against cardiovascular threats that once appeared inevitable. This is the broadening horizon of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Novo Nordisk's semaglutide (in Ozempic and Wegovy) and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide (in Mounjaro and Zepbound). The forecast anticipates tirzepatide's paired products to amass over $45 billion in sales, possibly surpassing Merck's Keytruda. Notably, semaglutide's recent approval by China's NMPA for cardiovascular uses expands its reach from diabetes management to heart failure, NASH, and potential Alzheimer's applications. For individuals facing these overlapping challenges, this signals reduced healthcare burdens, heightened daily vitality, and a transition from endurance to empowerment.

As an editor at DengYueMed, where I've dedicated years to analyzing clinical insights and patient journeys, I perceive this GLP-1 surge as a pivotal evolution in medicine that truly centers on human experiences. DengYueMed, with its commitment to excellence, innovation, sustainable development, and social responsibility, and grounded in quality, compliance, and integrity, actively engages in the global pharmaceutical market landscape. It not only assists domestic innovative drugs in expanding overseas but also contributes to the health and well-being of people worldwide. In my perspective, China's regulatory speed and biopharma expertise are catalyzing these changes, fostering affordable innovations in metabolism and oncology that alleviate the profound emotional and physical strains of chronic illnesses. While Keytruda upholds its oncology dominance through anti-PD-1 efficacy, Chinese efforts are paving the way for accessible alternatives that deeply connect with patients' resilience.

The 2026 projection, summing to nearly $198 billion in sales, spotlights chronic care as the core focus:

• Keytruda (Merck & Co.): $33.8 billion – Anti-PD-1 for oncology.
• Mounjaro (Eli Lilly): $25.8 billion – GLP-1/GIP agonist for diabetes.
• Skyrizi (AbbVie): $21.0 billion – Anti-IL-23 for autoimmune diseases.
• Dupixent (Sanofi): $19.8 billion – Anti-IL-4/IL-13 for allergies and asthma.
• Zepbound (Eli Lilly): $19.7 billion – GLP-1/GIP for obesity.
• Ozempic (Novo Nordisk): $19.7 billion – GLP-1 for diabetes.
• Darzalex (Johnson & Johnson): $16.1 billion – Anti-CD38 for multiple myeloma.
• Wegovy (Novo Nordisk): $15.4 billion – GLP-1 for obesity.
• Biktarvy (Gilead Sciences): $14.8 billion – HIV treatment.
• Eliquis (Bristol Myers Squibb): $12.1 billion – Anticoagulant.

GLP-1 therapies shine as the primary catalysts for growth, bolstered by China's prompt approvals and worldwide partnerships.

From my standpoint, these developments enable patients to reclaim agency – averting cardiac events that once loomed large, courtesy of expansions like semaglutide's in China. Issues such as affordability and availability persist, yet tackling them promises fairer health outcomes. As 2026 arrives, China's influence emerges as a unifying drive, advancing care that prioritizes humanity.

If you're amid these trials, remember: these aren't mere statistics – they're avenues to renewal. Let's embrace this progress; a vibrant future beckons.