Oral GLP-1 Delivery: From Scientific Barriers to Breakthrough Potential
On-Demand
March 18, 2026
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16:00
UK Time
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Event lasts 1h
Format: 30 minute presentation followed by a 30 minute panel discussion
Oral GLP-1 Delivery: From Scientific Barriers to Breakthrough Potential
The evolution of GLP-1 receptor agonists has transformed treatment paradigms for diabetes and obesity—but the shift from injectable to oral delivery remains one of the most complex challenges in drug formulation today.
At a recent thought leadership webinar on “Drug Formulation & Delivery: Oral GLP-1 Systems,” experts from academia and industry came together to explore how far the field has come—and what still stands in the way.
A Scientific Deep Dive into Oral Delivery
Opening the session, Professor Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch, Professor, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Innsbruck, Austria, and Chief Scientific Officer, Thiomatrix, delivered a focused and highly technical overview of the barriers limiting oral GLP-1 therapies.
Despite the success of injectable formulations, he highlighted three persistent challenges in the gastrointestinal tract: enzymatic degradation, mucus entrapment, and poor membrane permeability. These barriers are further compounded by the tendency of GLP-1 analogues to form stable oligomers, effectively increasing their size and limiting absorption.
Central to his presentation was the growing promise of lipid-based delivery systems, particularly self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). These platforms offer a scalable and practical route to improving peptide stability and transport.
He also compared two key incorporation strategies—hydrophobic ion-pairing and reverse micelles—demonstrating how both can dramatically enhance lipophilicity and enable peptides to interact more effectively with biological membranes. When combined with lipid carriers, these approaches can protect peptides from degradation while supporting meaningful improvements in oral bioavailability.
The message was clear: while oral delivery remains highly challenging, advances in lipid-based systems could represent a genuine step change in peptide therapeutics.
Panel Discussion: Bridging Innovation and Reality
The session then transitioned into a 30-minute panel discussion, moderated by Professor Bernkop-Schnürch, titled:
“Overcoming Scientific and Technological Challenges of Formulating Oral GLP-1 Therapies.”
He was joined by:
- Jitendra Kumar, Lead Scientist, Entos Pharma
- Severin Schneebeli, Associate Professor, Organic Chemistry, Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University
- Vivek Gupta, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. John’s University College of Pharmacy
Together, the panel explored key themes including formulation strategies, emerging delivery platforms, translational hurdles and the future of oral peptide therapeutics.
Formulation Strategies
Panellists examined whether combining lipid-based systems with permeation enhancers could further improve bioavailability. While promising in theory, they noted that in vivo performance often fails to replicate in vitro success, largely due to dilution effects and the complexity of the gastrointestinal environment.
Emerging Delivery Platforms
Discussion turned to next-generation approaches, including lipid nanoparticles and hybrid delivery systems emerging from adjacent fields such as gene therapy. While still evolving, these platforms may offer new opportunities for delivering peptides and biologics more effectively.
Translational Hurdles
A major focus was the challenge of translating innovation into viable products. Regulatory constraints, safety concerns around novel excipients, and scale-up limitations all remain significant barriers.
Industry preference for established excipients and proven technologies further limits formulation flexibility, making it difficult for novel approaches to reach clinical development.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, panellists emphasised the need for integrated development strategies, where drug design and delivery systems are developed in tandem.
There was also strong consensus that current GLP-1 analogues have been optimised for injection—not oral delivery—highlighting an opportunity for next-generation molecules designed specifically for the oral route.
The Patient Perspective: Why Oral Still Matters
Despite the effectiveness of injectable GLP-1 therapies, the panel highlighted a critical opportunity for oral formulations—earlier intervention.
For many patients, particularly in early-stage disease, the psychological barrier to injection remains significant. Oral therapies could therefore expand access, improve adherence and support better long-term outcomes.
A Field at a Turning Point
The webinar underscored a field in transition. Scientific progress—particularly in lipid-based delivery—continues to push boundaries, but significant translational challenges remain.
Success in oral GLP-1 delivery will not depend on a single breakthrough, but on the integration of formulation science, molecular design, regulatory strategy and clinical insight.
As innovation accelerates, one thing is clear: oral peptide delivery is moving from ambition to reality—and GLP-1 systems are leading the way.