Every year, breakthrough treatments make their way to market, bringing hope to patients. But not every drug candidate culminates in a successful launch. The R&D process is long and arduous—and often comes at a great cost since drugs are expensive to produce.

In recent years, we’ve seen GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, antibody drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies for cancer, radiopharmaceuticals, and cell and gene therapies create shockwaves in the pharmaceutical industry. What will the blockbuster drugs of the near future look like and how might they transform treatment paradigms?

Clarivate, a provider of global transformative intelligence, has used Clarivate data and predictive analysis to identify eleven drugs it believes are “poised to reach blockbuster status by 2030 or dramatically improve patient outcomes on a global scale.”

To identify this year’s Drugs to Watch 2025 list, Clarivate drew from expertise from over 160 Clarivate analysts covering hundreds of diseases, drugs, and markets and 11 integrated data sets that span the R&D and commercialization lifecycle.

The list includes drugs developed by makers in the U.S., UK, France, Denmark, and Spain, including Novo, Eli Lilly and GSK, among others, which address areas such as obesity, oncology, and gene therapy. See the list below.

Drugs to Watch 2025

1. AWIQLI (LAI 287; insulin icodec)

Developed by Novo Nordisk

Indications: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DENMARK/US)

AWIQLI, a once-weekly, subcutaneous insulin, has launched in Australia, Canada, the EU, Mainland China, and Japan. Clarivate notes that its weekly dosing offers a significant advantage over daily basal insulin, potentially reducing the treatment burden for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (T1DM and T2DM).

2. CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide)

Developed by Novo Nordisk

Indications: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DENMARK/US)

CagriSema, combining cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin analog, with semaglutide, promises superior efficacy over semaglutide (OZEMPIC/WEGOVY) and tirzepatide (MOUNJARO/ZEPBOUND) in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. This next-generation GLP-1 therapy leverages the benefits of GLP-1s, such as enhanced insulin secretion and appetite reduction, while incorporating amylin’s effects, including slowed glucose absorption and release. If approved, CagriSema will be the first fixed-dose combination of amylin and GLP-1 receptor agonists in the obesity and T2DM markets.

3. COBENFY (KarXT; xanomeline-trospium)

Developed by Bristol Myers Squibb

Indications: Schizophrenia and psychosis related to Alzheimer’s disease (US)

Amid setbacks for emerging schizophrenia treatments, the approval of COBENFY marks a milestone as the first drug in over 30 years with a novel mechanism of action for treating schizophrenia. Combining xanomeline and trospium, COBENFY selectively targets M1 and M4 receptors, rather than traditional dopamine pathways, while minimizing cholinergic side effects. While further data is needed to assess its effectiveness in Alzheimer’s disease-related psychosis, COBENFY shows strong commercial potential if proven effective in treating AD-related hallucinations and delusions.

4. EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab)

Developed by Eli Lilly and Co and Almirall

Indications: Atopic dermatitis (US and Spain)

EBGLYSS, the third biologic targeting IL-13 for atopic dermatitis, follows DUPIXENT (dupilumab) and ADBRY/ADTRALZA (tralokinumab) to market. Its less frequent dosing, more selective IL-13 inhibition, and strong efficacy and safety data position it as a likely first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis when topical corticosteroids are inadequate.

5. Fitusiran

Developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi

Indications: Hemophilia A and B (US and France)

Fitusiran, shown to be effective in phase 3 trials for both hemophilia A and B, regardless of inhibitor status, has the potential to offer a new approach to hemophilia treatment. This small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy works by inhibiting SerpinPC1 mRNA, reducing antithrombin levels, promoting thrombin generation, and helping to rebalance hemostasis to prevent bleeds. Leveraging Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ ESC-GalNAc conjugate technology, fitusiran could become the first antithrombin-lowering therapy based on a double-stranded RNA molecule, pending approval.

6. GSK-3536819 (MenABCWY)

Developed by GSK plc

Indications: Meningococcus (UK)

GSK plc’s GSK-3536819 vaccine candidate, a 5-in-1, first-generation formulation, targets the five groups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, B, C, W, and Y) responsible for most invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases worldwide. It combines the antigenic components of GSK’s licensed meningococcal vaccines, BEXSERO (MenB) and MENVEO (MenACWY), both of which have established efficacy and safety profiles.

7. IMDELLTRA (tarlatamab-dlle)

Developed by Amgen

Indications: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) (US)

IMDELLTRA is a first-in-class immunotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Using Amgen’s bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) molecules, it targets CD3 on T cells and DLL3 on tumor cells, enabling T cells to attack and lyse the tumor. DLL3 is expressed on the surface of SCLC cells in more than 85% of patients but is minimally expressed on healthy cells, making it an attractive target. This mechanism positions IMDELLTRA as a potential standard of care for previously treated ES-SCLC.

8. mRESVIA (mRNA-1345)

Developed by Moderna Inc

Indications: RSV (US)

With its U.S. FDA approval in May 2024, mRESVIA joined AREXVY and ABRYSVO as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines currently available for adults ages 60 years and older, helping further support the public health initiative to reduce the RSV-related disease burden. Even with available vaccines, RSV infections continue to be a public health concern, particularly for infants and older adults (65 years and older).

9. SEL-212

Developed by Sobi and Cartesian Therapeutics Inc/Selecta Biosciences Inc

Indications: Gout (US/UK and US)

SEL-212 is a novel, once-monthly treatment combining pegylated uricase (pegadricase; SEL-037) with ImmTOR, an immune tolerance technology designed to inhibit formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). For this application, ImmTOR consists of SEL-110.36, an inhibitor of uricase-specific ADA. This approach may help overcome the limitations of reduced efficacy and tolerability seen with other biologic treatments, such as KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase), in patients with chronic gout.

10. Vepdegestrant (ARV-471)

Developed by Arvinas Inc and Pfizer Inc

Indications: Breast cancer (US)

A global collaboration between Arvinas Inc and Pfizer Inc., vepdegestrant may become the first PROteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) protein degrader on the market. Designed to target and degrade the estrogen receptor (ER) protein, early studies suggest PROTAC-induced degradation is more complete than with oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs). This offers potential for overcoming endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Label expansions, including combination with IBRANCE (palbociclib), are being explored.

11. Zanzalintinib (XL092)

Developed by Exelixis Inc

Indications: Colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (US)

Zanzalintinib is a next-generation oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting VEGF receptors, MET, and TAM kinases involved in tumor growth and immunosuppression. Currently in phase 3 trials for non-clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), it is expected to gain FDA approval first for nccRCC. Compared to CABOMETYX (cabozantinib), zanzalintinib may offer benefits, including approval for nccRCC histology and a broader patient population.