Packaging innovation in the age of GLP-1: How Körber supports the pharmaceutical supply chain 

The surge in demand for GLP-1 receptor agonists — originally developed for diabetes management but now widely prescribed for obesity treatment — has sparked what many experts call a global healthcare transformation. 

With obesity now recognized as a chronic condition affecting more than one billion people worldwide, GLP-1 medications have redefined how some of the world’s most common health challenges are being treated. 

However, this growth brings new complexities. Manufacturers must scale production rapidly, secure resilient supply chains, and ensure that packaging safeguards product integrity from production through to patient delivery. 

What began as a primarily North American trend has quickly expanded into a global movement, with Europe, Asia, and other regions experiencing similarly strong adoption rates and supply demands. The ripple effects are reshaping how pharmaceutical packaging is designed, produced, and distributed at scale. 

“Every carton has a face — and often, it’s a loved one,” says Bob Reilley, Vice President of Körber Pharma Packaging Materials North America. This simple statement reflects Körber’s belief that packaging is not just a technical task — it’s a vital link in ensuring that life-changing medicines reach patients safely and reliably. 

Both injectable (parenteral) and oral (solid) GLP-1 products require specialized packaging approaches. For injectables, maintaining sterility and protection from environmental factors is critical. For oral forms, humidity control, tamper evidence, and precision in design are essential to preserve stability and patient safety. 

“Our edge isn’t just our people — it’s the way we work,” Reilley explains. “We’re tightly connected with our engineering teams around the world, sharing designs, data, and best practices in real time. And we go the extra mile — adding additional quality checks to ensure flawless performance every time.” 

At Körber’s Apex, North Carolina facility, this commitment is on full display. The site plays a central role in supporting the growing GLP-1 market in North America, while seamlessly integrating into Körber’s global network. The result is consistent quality, agile scalability, and innovation that transcends regional boundaries — empowering pharmaceutical partners to deliver with confidence in a rapidly changing marketplace. 

Behind every innovation at Körber lies a strong sense of purpose. That commitment was tested — and proven — during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Körber Pharma Packaging Materials became the near-exclusive supplier of cartons for one of the two major vaccines distributed in the United States. 

To meet urgent global demand, teams worked around the clock, even assembling millions of cartons by hand when automation reached its limits. Every action was driven by a single goal: ensuring that life-saving medicines reached patients on time. 

The lessons learned from that extraordinary period continue to shape Körber’s response to today’s challenges. The experience built resilience, agility, and scalability — capabilities that now enable Körber to respond rapidly to market surges such as the global expansion of GLP-1 therapies. 

What emerged from crisis was not just operational strength, but a renewed commitment to the human side of technology — a belief that precision, reliability, and empathy must coexist in everything Körber delivers. 

The rise of GLP-1 medications signals more than a market trend — it marks a new era of pharmaceutical production where breakthrough treatments move from development to global adoption at record speed. 

With projections suggesting that more than half of Europe’s population could be affected by obesity by 2030 — and similar trajectories worldwide — manufacturers face mounting pressure to scale, maintain quality, and streamline supply chains. 

This is where the Körber Ecosystem in pharma creates distinct value. Körber combines decades of expertise, cutting-edge technology, and end-to-end service to support pharmaceutical manufacturers at every step of the journey. The Ecosystem integrates complementary strengths, including:

• Aseptic processing solutions – guaranteeing sterility for injectable GLP-1 medications 
• Inspection, labeling and packaging machines – ensuring precision and compliance at every stage 
• Handling, materials and packaging equipment – designed for scalability, speed, and operational accuracy 
• Software, digital and AI-driven solutions – optimizing production workflows, real-time monitoring, data analytics, and process control for improved efficiency and decision-making 
• End-to-end consulting and services – streamlining production, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance through expert guidance 
• Integrated supply chain solutions – maintaining product integrity and visibility throughout the entire distribution network 

By interconnecting these capabilities, the Körber Ecosystem empowers manufacturers to address complex challenges holistically. Technology, expertise, and partnership work in harmony — enabling the agility, reliability, and foresight that today’s GLP-1 market demands. 

Körber’s forward-looking strategy focuses equally on technology and talent, ensuring facilities worldwide are equipped to meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities — wherever innovation leads next. 

More than just packaging: A promise to patients 

At Körber, packaging is more than a technical solution — it’s a promise of safety, quality, and trust. 
Every carton that leaves a Körber facility represents countless hours of precision engineering, rigorous testing, and collaboration. But above all, it represents a commitment: that each medicine will reach patients exactly as intended — protected, effective, and ready to make a difference. 

In a world where GLP-1 medications are transforming healthcare and improving lives, packaging is not just part of the supply chain. It is an essential part of the patient experience. Körber’s dedication to excellence — from material selection to production processes to quality assurance — ensures that this commitment is fulfilled with every single delivery. 

The future of healthcare is accelerating. Are you ready to keep pace? 

As demand for GLP-1 medications continues to grow, the need for scalable, reliable, and innovative packaging solutions has never been greater. With the Körber Ecosystem in pharma, you gain a partner who understands the complexity of the pharmaceutical landscape — and who can help you navigate it from concept to commercial success. 

Contact our experts today to discuss your unique challenges and explore tailored solutions for your manufacturing and packaging needs.