On January 6, 2026, Clarivate Plc, a global leader in transformative intelligence for life sciences, published its highly anticipated 2026 Drugs to Watch report from its London, U.K. headquarters. This comprehensive analysis spotlights eleven therapies poised to achieve blockbuster status—defined as exceeding USD 1 billion in annual sales—or significantly transform patient care within the next five years. The report draws on Clarivate's integrated data assets, AI-enhanced datasets, and insights from over 160 analysts who evaluated hundreds of drugs across diverse diseases and markets.

The selection process considered therapies in phase two or three development, preregistration, registration, or early 2026 launches. Key evaluation criteria included clinical trial results, regulatory status, market dynamics, competitive landscapes, forecast sales, and expert judgments. Therapies were categorized into themes such as metabolic innovation, women's health, rare and chronic diseases, and protein degraders, reflecting the evolving pharmaceutical landscape.

Among the highlighted candidates is Orforglipron from Eli Lilly and Co., a once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist targeting obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension in obese individuals. This therapy represents a shift toward convenient oral alternatives to injectables, potentially improving patient adherence and real-world outcomes in metabolic diseases.

Exdensur (depemokimab) by GSK targets severe asthma with biannual subcutaneous dosing as an IL-5 monoclonal antibody. It is also under investigation for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and hypereosinophilic syndrome, underscoring advancements in long-acting biologics for immunology.

Johnson & Johnson's Icotrokinra, an oral IL-23 receptor antagonist dosed once daily, addresses plaque psoriasis and is being evaluated for psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis. This innovation in oral small molecules could disrupt the immunology market dominated by biologics.

In nephrology, Otsuka's VOYXACT® (sibeprenlimab), a subcutaneous APRIL-targeting monoclonal antibody administered every four weeks, treats immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and shows promise in Sjögren’s syndrome. For neurology, Sanofi's Tolebrutinib, a daily oral BTK inhibitor, targets non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, offering a novel mechanism in a high-unmet-need area.

Celcuity's Gedatolisib, a pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor given intravenously weekly, focuses on HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Corcept Therapeutics' Relacorilant, an oral selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (SGRA), addresses platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, Cushing syndrome, and hypercortisolism.

The report emphasizes delivery innovations like extended-release and oral formulations, enhancing adherence. It also notes Mainland China's rise as a hub for oncology, metabolic, and immunology therapies, influencing global strategies. Henry Levy, President of Life Sciences & Healthcare at Clarivate, highlighted the interplay of unprecedented innovation and complexity, stressing anticipatory intelligence for prioritizing R&D investments.

Data sources include Cortellis Competitive Intelligence, Epidemiology Intelligence, Regulatory Intelligence, Clinical Trials Intelligence, Deals Intelligence, and DRG Market Assessment, bolstered by peer-reviewed publications, expert interviews, and regional analyses. This report serves as a critical tool for pharmaceutical executives, R&D leaders, and investors navigating 2026's competitive dynamics, regulatory shifts, and patient-centric innovations. With over 110 therapies featured historically, Drugs to Watch remains a benchmark for tracking pharma sector evolution, aiding strategic decisions in biotechnology, drug discovery, and market forecasting.

For B2B stakeholders in Europe, the insights are particularly relevant amid ongoing EU pharmaceutical legislation reforms, providing foresight into therapies likely to impact clinical trials, manufacturing scale-up, supply chain logistics, and regulatory compliance. Companies can leverage this intelligence for partnership opportunities, outsourcing strategies with CROs/CMOs, and technology investments in AI-driven analytics to accelerate their pipelines.