Clarivate has released its 2026 Drugs to Watch report, identifying eleven therapies expected to deliver significant clinical impact and strong commercial potential during the coming year.
The annual analysis highlights therapies expected to reshape treatment approaches across metabolic disease, oncology, immunology, rare conditions and neurological disorders, with the potential to achieve blockbuster status or transform care within five years.
Drugs to Watch has consistently identified therapies that redefine patient care, with more than 110 featured to date, making it a central reference for tracking innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
Drawing on Clarivate's integrated data assets and AI-powered intelligence, the report identifies emerging therapies that may achieve blockbuster status or drive meaningful transformation in patient care.
The analysis reflects the interplay of scientific progress, regulatory change and evolving competitive dynamics as companies navigate increasingly complex global markets.
Henry Levy, President, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Clarivate, said: "The pharmaceutical landscape in 2026 will be defined by both unprecedented innovation and increasing complexity."
"From metabolic disease to rare conditions and precision therapies, the ability to anticipate emerging drug trends and understand shifting patient and market dynamics will be critical."
"This year's Drugs to Watch report highlights not only therapies with the potential to transform care but also the broader trends shaping the industry."
"By leveraging anticipatory intelligence and advanced analytics, companies can make more informed decisions, prioritise meaningful innovation and ultimately bring transformative treatments to patients faster."
Key therapies featured in the Drugs to Watch 2026 report include the following:
- Orforglipron (Eli Lilly): oral, once-daily small-molecule GLP-1 RA for obesity and T2DM; also studied in obesity-related comorbidities
- Retatrutide (Eli Lilly): once-weekly injectable triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon RA for obesity and T2DM, with broad cardiometabolic indications under evaluation
- Exdensur / depemokimab (GSK): twice-yearly anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody for asthma; also in eosinophilic and nasal polyp disorders
- Icotrokinra (Johnson & Johnson): oral, once-daily IL-23 receptor antagonist for plaque psoriasis, with IBD and psoriatic arthritis expansion studies
- VOYXACT / sibeprenlimab (Otsuka): monthly anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody for IgA nephropathy; also studied in Sjögren’s syndrome
- Tolebrutinib (Sanofi): oral BTK inhibitor for non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
- Gedatolisib (Celcuity): weekly IV pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer; also in prostate cancer
- INLEXZO / TAR-200 (Johnson & Johnson): intravesical antimetabolite for BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC, with MIBC studies ongoing
- Relacorilant (Corcept Therapeutics): oral selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and hypercortisolism
- BGB-16673 (BeOne Medicines): Oral BTK-directed CDAC degrader for relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL and other B-cell malignancies
- Mezigdomide (Bristol Myers Squibb): oral second-generation CELMoD for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with immune-stimulatory activity.
The Drugs to Watch 2026 report highlights the evolution of the pharmaceutical landscape across multiple therapeutic frontiers.
In metabolic disease, next-generation therapies are advancing oral delivery, novel hormonal mechanisms and broader applications across comorbid conditions.
With obesity drug sales projected to reach $150bn by 2035, companies will need to demonstrate real-world effectiveness, address payer considerations and differentiate through safety, convenience and clinical value.
Rare disease development is also expanding beyond oncology into neurological, psychiatric and hematologic conditions.
Success in these ultra-small populations requires early patient identification, targeted engagement and an evidence-driven approach, while navigating increasingly complex regulatory pathways in the United States and Europe.
Precision oncology and immunology are advancing in tandem, with innovations such as protein degraders, oral immunology agents and next-generation targeted therapies enhancing specificity and improving patient access.
The report highlights the increasing importance of delivery innovation, including extended-release formulations and oral alternatives to injectable drugs, which improve adherence and real-world outcomes.
Meanwhile, Mainland China is emerging as both a critical commercial market and a source of global innovation, with domestic developers advancing competitive therapies that are shaping global strategies in oncology, metabolic disease and immunology.