pharmaceutical · input
GLP-1 receptor agonist peptides (glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs) are the active pharmaceutical ingredient in blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs: semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy — Novo Nordisk), liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda — Novo Nordisk), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound — Eli Lilly). These are 30-40 amino acid modified peptides with fatty acid chains for extended half-life, manufactured by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) followed by refolding and purification. Manufacturing is highly specialized — each API requires custom SPPS equipment, chromatography, and formulation. Chronic GLP-1 drug shortages 2023-2025 revealed extreme supply concentration: Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have captive manufacturing; contract manufacturers (CordenPharma, Bachem, Lonza) are expanding capacity but remained bottlenecked through 2024.
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Source countries
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Companies
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Goods affected
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Claims on record
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| DKDenmark | 60% |
| USUnited States | 20% |
| CHSwitzerland | 8% |
| CNChina | 5% |
| SESweden | 4% |
| BEBelgium | 3% |
Who makes it
7 companies produce glp-1 receptor agonist peptide api (semaglutide / liraglutide type).
World's largest insulin manufacturer. Controls ~33.7% of global diabetes care market; ~45% of human insulin. Operates the world's largest insulin production facility in Kalundborg, Denmark (produces ~50% of global insulin supply). Dominant in GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy); FY2024 revenue DKK 232B. Uses both E. coli and yeast fermentation.
Swiss peptide CDMO; largest independent peptide API manufacturer globally; $1B+ expansion at Bubendorf Switzerland; key GLP-1 API supplier for generics and biosimilar programs
Swiss CDMO operating European and US API manufacturing sites; primary lipid partner for Moderna; manufactures SM-102 and full LNP lipid component portfolio including ionizable, PEGylated, phosphocholine, and plant sterols; claims largest complex lipid capacity globally
Swedish peptide CDMO; part of Recipharm; EUR 100M expansion at Malmo Sweden (Jan 2025); new large-scale SPPS capacity Braine-lAlleud Belgium (Dec 2024); GLP-1 API manufacturing
Lonza Group AG (Visp, Switzerland; SIX: LONN; ~CHF 6.7B revenue) is the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotech CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization). Primary business is biologic drug manufacturing (mammalian cell culture, microbial fermentation) for pharma clients. Manufactured Moderna COVID-19 mRNA. Sold Specialty Ingredients (biocides: benzalkonium chloride, quats) to Arxada in 2021. Capsules and health ingredients division (HPMC and gelatin capsules) is the world's largest hard capsule manufacturer.
US peptide CDMO; new state-of-the-art facility in North Augusta South Carolina launched Sept 2024; high-purity peptide APIs for clinical and commercial; SPPS and purification technology
European CDMO with peptide API capabilities; key GLP-1 synthesis CDMO; multiple European sites including Switzerland and Italy
