{"id":39021,"date":"2026-05-11T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T07:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.frankfurt-school.de\/?p=39021"},"modified":"2026-05-11T08:27:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T07:27:58","slug":"obesity-and-diabetes-care-added-value-by-glp-1-treatment-companion-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.frankfurt-school.de\/de\/obesity-and-diabetes-care-added-value-by-glp-1-treatment-companion-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Obesity and diabetes care – added value by GLP-1 treatment companion app"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weight loss drugs, also known as GLP-1 drugs are now widely used in standard care, advancing diabetes and obesity treatment and promoting healthier lifestyles. Until 2032, estimated over 10 new market entries are expected to populate the German GLP-1 market, both from original pharmaceutical manufacturers and biosimilar producers, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Altimmune, Pfizer, Zentiva, Basics, and others. As a result, competition in the market will increase and pharmaceutical companies will have to defend their market position. Market forecasts expect a market growth in the following years. As of early 2026, the German GLP-1 market size is estimated at \u20ac2.3 billion. Obesity and type two diabetes are the two main medical conditions for a GLP-1 prescription. Although the prevalence for obesity remains relatively stable at around 21% (or 18 million adults) in Germany, health-conscious adults and lifestyle choices will drive the demand in the future.<\/p>\n

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The Challenge: Treatment Discontinuation and its Impact<\/h2>\n

Despite strong clinical outcomes, studies indicate that up to 65% of GLP-1 patients discontinue therapy within the first twelve months of treatment. In many cases, this attrition does not occur because the therapy is ineffective or the high treatment costs. Instead, patients frequently struggle with insufficient guidance between physician visits, uncertainty about treatment expectations and likely side effects they might encounter during therapy. Patients experience challenges especially in the early phase of treatment. The combination of GLP-1 dosage adjustment, physical side effects, and lack of structured reassurance often leads to anxiety and treatment interruption. Treatment discontinuation has a direct economic impact on pharmaceutical companies\u00b4 revenues due to decrease in sales of medication. In chronic disorders, treatment persistence is a key driver of value creation for pharma companies. Each additional month a patient remains on GLP-1 therapy increases both clinical outcomes and cumulative revenue for pharmaceutical companies. Consequently, improving treatment adherence represents an economic opportunity for pharmaceutical companies.<\/p>\n

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Digital Companion Apps: Closing the Gap<\/h2>\n

Our research, conducted as part of an EMBA thesis at Frankfurt School, suggests that medication-specific treatment companion apps can address this structural gap effectively (Table 1).<\/p>\n

Table 1: mHealth apps available in Germany (1A, sources: App downloads and user manuals) and core features a tailored digital companion app should address (1B).<\/p>\n

1A<\/p>\n

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1B<\/p>\n

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Apps provide structured patient support throughout the therapy journey, particularly during the most vulnerable early weeks of treatment. The application can combine medically validated treatment and symptom guidance, a personalized therapy journey aligned with dose progression, nutrition and lifestyle education that complements pharmacological treatment, moderated peer support, and a real-world data engine generating anonymized insights on patient engagement and persistence (GLPioneer*; see Figure 1).<\/p>\n

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Figure 1:GLPioneer* mock up user interface highlights five core functions.<\/p>\n

The application can be branded for a pharma product and the user experience can be customised individually (e.g. treatment goals and medication plan).<\/p>\n

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Value Creation and Business Model<\/h2>\n

The value created by drug specific applications extends across all key stakeholders (pharma, healthcare professionals and patients).<\/p>\n