(MENAFN- Crypto Breaking) Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 10, 2025: You've more than likely heard of Ozempic , the diabetes drug hailed as a miracle weight-loss treatment. That drug is made by Danish healthcare giant Novo Nordisk. GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs have redefined what investors expect from healthcare in recent years.
At eToro, we ran analysis on the firms producing these treatments, and they have delivered the kind of returns more often seen in high-growth technology stocks than in traditional pharma.

What makes this run more remarkable is that it includes a challenging past year. The GLP-1 basket is down 12% over the past 12 months, with Novo Nordisk shares down 50% , while non-GLP-1 pharma is up 10% . By comparison, the S&P 500 has risen 16% in the same period.

Over the past five years, the stand-out performer is Eli Lilly, up 486% followed by Teva which has more than doubled (+116%). Novo Nordisk climbed 76% despite a steep pullback in the last year, while Hikma has slipped 28% . On the non-GLP-1 side, AbbVie has been the strongest (+168% over five years) , while Bayer has been the weakest, falling almost 40%.

The market for weight-loss drugs is projected to be worth around USD $130 billion by 2030 , which would require annual growth of nearly 50% from today's levels. We have seen shares of GLP-1 manufacturers struggle in the last 12 months due to a reset on these lofty expectations. Valuations grew, and firms like Novo Nordisk announced profits would not grow as quickly as expected , which led them to cut 9,000 jobs as they scale back operations.

Novo Nordisk has long dominated this market with its insulin and GLP-1 products, offering more effective long-term management and transforming the lives of patients globally. But growing demand for these products has seen competition grow. Novo's closest rival, Eli Lilly, a far larger and more diversified healthcare giant, has seen shares surge in the last five years, with its diabetes drug Zepbound seeing strong results in weight loss.

Still, the extraordinary growth expected has made the sector one of the most attractive opportunities in healthcare , with pharmaceutical and biotech firms racing to develop the next breakthrough treatment. While it's difficult to predict which company will emerge as the dominant player, one thing is clear, there is enormous potential in this space .

As life expectancy rises , so too does the prevalence of diabetes , particularly here in the UAE , where more than one in five adults live with the condition . In the UAE, the effects extend well beyond the stock market. The growing popularity of GLP-1 treatments has influenced everything from local healthcare supply chains to dining culture , with some Dubai restaurants now offering smaller portion menus to cater to those using appetite-suppressing drugs.

For investors, GLP-1s still represent one of the most exciting stories in healthcare . The sector has faced a bit of a reality check after an exceptional run , but the bigger picture is that global demand is growing fast , including here in the Middle East, and the companies leading this revolution are still shaping one of the biggest shifts we've seen in healthcare for years .

Media Contacts:

...

About eToro

eToro is a trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have 40 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we've created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledg and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media centre her for our latest news.

Disclaimers:

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

eToro is a group of companies that are authorised and regulated in their respective jurisdictions. The regulatory authorities overseeing eToro include:

• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK
• The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Cyprus
• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia
• The Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the Seychelles
• The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) in the UAE
• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in Singapore

This communication is for information and education purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice, a personal recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation to buy or sell, any financial instruments. This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient's investment objectives or financial situation, and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements to promote independent research. Any references to past or future performance of a financial instrument, index or a packaged investment product are not, and should not be taken as, a reliable indicator of future results. eToro makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication.

Regulation and License Numbers:

Middle East

eToro (ME) Limited, is licensed and regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”)'s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA“) as an Authorised Person to conduct the Regulated Activities of (a) Dealing in Investments as Principal (Matched), (b) Arranging Deals in Investments, (c) Providing Custody, (d) Arranging Custody and (e) Managing Assets (under Financial Services Permission Number 220073) under the Financial Services and Market Regulations 2015 (“FSMR”). Its registered office and its principal place of business is at Office 207 and 208, 15th Floor Floor, Al Sarab Tower, ADGM Square , Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (“UAE”).

Crypto Investing Risk Warning
Crypto assets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk. Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest.

MENAFN10102025008006017065ID1110177745