As the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonists launch in 2026, we are reminded yet again of the enduring importance of the oral solid dosage (OSD) form amongst patients. According to a June 2026 announcement from Novo Nordisk[i], US prescriptions for its semaglutide tablets exceeded three million in just over five months, cementing its status as one of the strongest US pharmaceutical launches on record, by volume.

Notably, the company stated that over 80% of the prescriptions were for patients new to GLP-1 receptor agonists. This attests to the power of OSD pharmaceuticals. Not only do oral drugs address access barriers linked to needle aversion (an affliction that 20% to 30% of young adults are estimated to have)[ii], they can also reduce administration burden, long-term treatment fatigue, and healthcare spending.

A recent GlobalData report[iii] says that approvals for oral solid dose (OSD) products grew approximately 24% in 2025, while injectables approvals fell by 17%. Both dosage forms have a critical role to play in the future. While complex biologics require injection, sales for small molecule OSD products will continue to climb. By 2032, GlobalData predicts currently marketed OSD products to generate $675.2bn in global sales, with market value growing at a CAGR of 8.1% between 2025 and 2032.

Increased demand for highly potent oncology treatments will drive much of this growth. Other key therapy areas for OSD sales include central nervous system, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular.

Meanwhile, the impact of the fast-evolving diabetes and obesity landscape cannot be ignored, with oral GLP-1 receptor agonists expected to expand OSD manufacturing volumes dramatically.

OSD dynamics

Compared to injectables, a different set of dynamics shape the OSD market. Solid forms are generally easier and less expensive to manufacture than liquid injectables, which require sterile manufacturing and more costly packaging formats.

Pharmaceutical companies can typically leverage mature manufacturing and packaging infrastructure for OSD products, which helps to accelerate commercialization. Such infrastructure also makes it easier to scale production, even when manufacturers lack in-house capabilities.

According to the same GlobalData report, solid dosage forms have maintained the highest share of outsourcing since 2020. In 2025, 43% of outsourced new molecular entities (NMEs) and 42% of outsourced non-NMEs were OSD products. Interestingly, the proportion of outsourced non-NMEs that were solid also increased in 2025 compared to the five-year average prior, while other forms decreased their outsourcing propensity.

Packaging shortages ahead?

The most common OSD forms are tablets and capsules packaged in blisters or bottles, often with an outer carton or folding blister wallet. In North America, bottles remain the primary commercial format, while blister and strip-pack formats play a larger role in many international markets. Similar patterns are expected to emerge as oral GLP-1 therapies are introduced globally, says Sharp’s Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Benedict, although blister packaging is likely to play an important role in supporting physician samples and hospital-unit-dose requirements in North America.

“I expect brand owners will continue investing in their own packaging infrastructure,” adds Benedict. “However, CDMOs will remain important for launch support, managing demand fluctuations, providing overflow capacity, and helping mitigate supply chain risk.”

He notes that for CDMOs like Sharp, success will depend on “balancing the growing demand for oral GLP-1 packaging with ongoing commitments to existing [non-GLP-1] products and clients.”

Navigating potential component shortages could also be a challenge as the OSD market enters this new growth phase. According to Benedict, increased demand for oral GLP-1 therapies could impact the availability of key packaging components such as bottles, caps, desiccants, films, foils, labels, and cartons.

“It may also increase demand for mid- to high-speed bottling equipment,” he says. However, because the OSD supply chain is generally broader and more mature than that of injectable therapies, widespread shortages are less likely. “The greater challenge may be ensuring sufficient capacity and component availability as demand continues to grow,” Benedict adds.

Flexibility is key for orphan OSD drugs

As the development of new rare disease medicines continues to grow, OSD manufacturing is playing a key role within this. According to GlobalData’s Drugs database (accessed 20 August 2026), just under half (47.8%) of Orphan Designated Drugs (ODDs) currently marketed in the US are orally administered.

According to the previously cited report, ODD outsourcing levels are typically higher than overall NME outsourcing due to the need for accelerated timelines. Yet while orphan NMEs represent lucrative contracts for CDMOs, they bring significant scheduling complexity and a need for fast line changeovers. As the report states, not all CDMOs “have the appropriate production capabilities to fulfil related orders”.

Flexibility is an essential, says Benedict. “CDMOs are adapting packaging operations through modular capacity, flexible line design and automation,” he explains. “This allows them to support the smaller, more variable requirements associated with personalized, rare and orphan medicines while also providing the equipment and throughput required for larger commercial drug products, including oral GLP-1 therapies.”

According to Benedict, the foundation for this flexibility is a robust Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS). A well-established PQS enables consistent compliance and qualified processes across programs regardless of scale. Flexible equipment can then be matched to each product’s volume and packaging requirements.

“For Sharp, this combination allows us to support clients from clinical low-volume supply through commercialization, helping them scale from launch to long-term market demand,” says Benedict.

Patient-centric OSD packaging

Regardless of manufacturing scale, one constant across OSD packaging projects is the continued emphasis on patient-centric designs. Examples include intuitive pack layouts, easy-to-follow instructions, and clear dose identification, supported by solutions such as calendarized blister packs and dose-titration packaging. Senior-friendly opening features and child-resistant designs can further improve safety and adherence.

Sharp’s packaging design team have supported patient-centric OSD designs through development and optimization of calendar packs, wallets and other packaging configurations designed to help patients follow prescribed dosing schedules. Its teams regularly assess packaging components and pack choices against patient needs. Early collaboration, ideally by Phase II, enables these considerations to be addressed well before the final commercial configuration is fixed.

Advancing sustainability

Sustainability is another area where oral drug packaging may offer advantages over injectable formats, says Benedict, particularly when compared with assembled injectable devices that can be difficult to separate for reclamation. “Bottles and caps may offer more straightforward recycling opportunities, though this still depends on appropriate collection systems being available,” he adds.

Despite some inherent benefits, there is still significant room for improvement. According to Benedict, key opportunities include reducing the amount of material used in bottles and closures, optimizing pack sizes, and transitioning from printed product information to digital, QR code-based formats. Localized manufacturing, packaging, and sourcing strategies can also reduce the need to transport bulk product and components across multiple regions.

When it comes to new materials, some organizations are evaluating paper-based alternatives and lower-footprint cartons. Nevertheless, Benedict emphasizes that meaningful sustainability gains can often be achieved through material reduction alone rather than introducing entirely new materials. Good news for sponsors – since any change involving recycled materials, lighter components or alternative films can be challenging to implement given the unwavering requirements for moisture protection, oxygen barrier performance, product stability, child resistance, tamper evidence, and shelf life.

“Sustainable packaging changes for OSD products are likely to be introduced through structured technical trials rather than immediate wholesale replacements of established components,” believes Benedict. “Barrier films, foil structures, desiccant systems and alternative bottle materials are all areas for potential evaluation.”

“Ultimately, the most sustainable material is not always the best option for every application. The industry is increasingly focused on finding solutions that balance environmental performance and patient safety rather than prioritizing one over the other.”

The future of OSD packaging

The OSD segment is poised for sustained growth, driven by increasing demand across metabolic disease, oncology, and rare disease therapies, as well as established benefits of oral delivery regarding patient convenience, adherence, production costs, and healthcare spending. As growth continues, packaging will play an increasingly strategic role within this growth.

Future packaging decisions will require a careful balance between patient needs, product protection, sustainability, and supply resilience. CDMOs will play a major part in helping sponsors navigate these competing priorities. In an increasingly complex OSD landscape, the most valuable CDMOs will be those help sponsors reduce complexity, accelerate time to market and ensure reliable supply, enabling therapies to reach patients who depend on them.

[i] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wegovy-pill-prescriptions-surpass-3-million-1-filled-roughly-every-5-seconds-bringing-glp-1-therapy-to-people-with-obesity-previously-untreated-while-novo-nordisk-unveils-new-data-at-ada-2026-302793337.html [ii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30109720/ [iii] GlobalData, New Drug Approvals and Their Contract Manufacture: 2026 Edition,