The pharmaceutical sector is experiencing unprecedented demand for new blockbuster drugs, particularly GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity management. Although Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy have garnered most attention, the sector has seen broad engagement from major pharmaceutical companies. Eli Lilly's obesity drug Zepbound and diabetes injection Mounjaro have faced similar supply constraints, leading to massive manufacturing investments.
Other industry leaders are also making strategic moves in this space: AstraZeneca is developing innovative GLP-1-based therapies, Merck has entered a $2.01 billion partnership with Hansoh Pharma for experimental weight-loss drug development, and Roche has acquired Carmot Therapeutics for up to $3.1 billion to access their promising drug candidate CT-388. This surge in demand and sector-wide transformation presents specific opportunities for property investors – albeit with important caveats about which assets offer the most accessible exposure.
