KoNECT

Fortrea is excited to participate in the upcoming KoNECT South Korea event, taking place from October 13-15 in Seoul. This premier gathering of clinical research professionals offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches and strengthen collaborations in the region.

At the event, Fortrea will showcase our comprehensive clinical trial expertise, global site network, and patient-focused solutions designed to accelerate study timelines and improve outcomes. Stop by our booths to:

• Discuss cutting-edge strategies in clinical trial management and site engagement
• Learn about Fortrea’s tailored solutions for the South Korean and broader Asian markets
• Connect with our team of experts to explore partnership opportunities and share insights

Speaking Session Information:

Topic: New Era in Obesity Drug Development
Speaker: Claudia Filozof, MD, PhD, Vice President and Therapeutic Area Head in Obesity, MASH and Liver indications, Fortrea
Date: October 14, 2026
Time: 12:30- 13:00

New Era in Obesity Drug Development

Obesity drug development has entered a transformative phase, driven by the success of incretin-based therapies. GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual incretin therapies have redefined treatment expectations, achieving levels of weight loss once considered unattainable with pharmacotherapy^1,2. The recent emergence of oral agents, such as orforglipron³, reflects a growing focus on convenience, scalability, and long-term patient adherence in addition to efficacy.

Clinical development remains centered on next-generation incretin therapies, including dual, triple, and emerging quadruple agonists targeting GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, and other metabolic pathways. These approaches aim to enhance weight reduction through complementary effects on appetite regulation, energy expenditure, and metabolic function⁴.

As efficacy approaches potential physiological limits, future differentiation is expected to extend beyond weight-loss percentages alone. Key areas of innovation include improving tolerability, reducing treatment discontinuation, simplifying dosing and titration, expanding oral or less-invasive options, and ensuring manufacturing capacity can meet global demand. Novel mechanisms that target energy expenditure and body composition may also complement the current incretin-focused landscape.

Increasing attention is being paid to the quality of weight loss, particularly the preservation of lean mass. Consistent with recent FDA draft guidance⁵, developers are incorporating body-composition assessments and functional outcomes to better characterize treatment benefits and support differentiated product claims.

The obesity treatment paradigm is also evolving toward combination therapies, treatment sequencing, and long-term maintenance strategies that recognize obesity as a chronic disease^3,4. Ultimately, future success will depend not only on maximizing weight loss, but on delivering therapies that combine efficacy, safety, durability, convenience, affordability, and meaningful real-world outcomes for diverse patient populations.

Meet our team of trial experts

References:

1. Wilding et al., NEJM (2021)
2. Jastreboff et al., NEJM (2022, 2023)
3. Wharton et al., NEJM (2025)
4. Ansari et al., Nat Rev Endocrinol (2024)
5. FDA Draft Guidance (2025)

We look forward to connecting with you!