As 2025 comes to an end, endocrinology remains a discipline characterized by rapid scientific and clinical advancement. Over the past year, significant therapeutic innovations, important regulatory decisions, and evolving clinical guidance have continued to enhance the understanding and management of endocrine and metabolic disorders. Collectively, these developments highlight the increasingly central role of endocrinology in modern medicine, particularly in addressing chronic conditions with a substantial global health impact.

In this year-end overview, members of the touchENDOCRINOLOGY Editorial Board reflect on their personal highlights from 2025, sharing perspectives on the advances that have most influenced clinical practice and research. Their insights capture a year marked by progress and transition, while also looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges that will shape the next phase of progress in endocrinology.

Professor Ashley Grossman

University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

“In terms of my interest in endocrine tumours, and especially of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs), the outstanding therapeutic trial this year has been on the use of the HIF-2a antagonist belzutifan in metastatic PPGLs. In a phase 2 study of such patients, the LITESPARK-015 trial, Jimenez et al (N Engl J Med. 2025 Nov 20;393(20):2012-2022.) found that of 72 patients with invasive or metastatic tumours, 72% showed an objective response, with control in 85% and highly durable responses. Grade 3 anaemia was seen in 22%. This agent is therefore a new tool in our armamentarium for these problematic tumours, although it is currently unclear as to its position in the sequencing of treatments, and its expense is yet to be determined.”

Dr Diana Isaacs

Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Center, Cleveland, OH , USA

“2025 saw tons of innovations in diabetes technology. We now have three automated insulin delivery systems that are FDA approved for type 2 diabetes (Omnipod 5, Control IQ+, Minimed 780g) with the ladder two gaining approval in 2025. Sequel Twiist, the first pump to work with the Tidepool Loop algorithm officially became available last August, offering a lower target of 87mg/dL. This is a big deal because lower targets often lead to more time in range.

This year saw many innovations in CGM. We gained the new Libre app, which replaced the previous libre 2 and 3 apps. Libre 2 plus and 3 plus are 15-day sensors with a reduced vitamin C drug interaction compared to the original Libre 2 and 3 which were 14-day wear times and have now been phased out. The biolinq shine was FDA cleared in 2025, which is the first intradermal sensor.  Although not available yet, it’s supposed to be a lower cost option with simplicity. It’s worn on the forearm and has a color coated scheme to indicate if in range or out of range.

This year the FDA approved the first CGM for weight management called Signos, which uses the over-the-counter Dexcom Stelo biosensor and combines CGM data with food logging and health coaching.  Also in 2025, Medtronic Minimed launched new sensors for those using their pumps called the Simplera Sync and the Instinct. Notably, Instinct is the same form factor and technology as Libre 3 plus, lasting 15 days, except it’s made just for Minimed pumps.  This is a huge improvement from the Guardian 4 which has a separate transmitter that must be charged and is only 7 days. Then in December, The Dexcom 15-day sensor launched in the US with a longer wear-time. It also has an improved algorithm and accuracy compared to the 10-day version.

To close out the year, Omnipod 5, which remains the only tubeless AID system, announced FDA clearance for an improved algorithm. In 2026, they are launching an update with a lower glucose target of 100mg/dL and less kick-outs of automated mode.

Indeed it’s been an exciting year, and I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!”

Dr Elizabeth Pearce

Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

“The 2025 updated American Thyroid Association guidelines for the management of differentiated thyroid cancer are likely to have a lasting impact on patient management. Recommendations in the guideline are strongly patient-centered and emphasize the importance of shared clinical decision-making. Notable changes include the de-escalation of care for low-risk thyroid cancers and more granular risk stratification categories.”

Dr John Doupis

Iatriko P. Falirou Medical Center, Athens, Greece

“In 2025, diabetes and obesity therapeutics are increasingly framed as cardio-renal-metabolic disease management, where glycaemic control is necessary but no longer the primary endpoint. Contemporary standards elevate SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists to foundational status for people with type 2 diabetes who already have, or are at high risk for, cardiovascular or kidney disease, emphasizing clinical success as fewer heart-failure hospitalizations and slower chronic kidney disease progression alongside durable HbA1c reductions.  In obesity, the treatment frontier is moving beyond single-pathway incretin agonism: dual GIP/GLP-1 agonism (tirzepatide) is consolidated as a high-effect option, while early-to-mid-stage evidence for triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon agonists (notably retatrutide) suggests even larger weight reductions, contingent on long-term safety, tolerability, and scalable access. Reflecting this shift, the WHO has issued its first guideline supporting GLP-1–based pharmacotherapy for obesity as long-term treatment in adults, while stressing cost, equity, and systems capacity constraints. On the technology side, 2025 diabetes care is marked by broader deployment of interoperable continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery (hybrid closed loop) systems, with improved algorithms and integration (including decision support and insulin-delivery workflows) aimed at increasing time-in-range while minimizing hypoglycaemia and burden of self-management.”

Professor Linda M. Siminerio

University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA

“As technological approaches are being successfully applied in the delivery of diabetes clinical care, technical advances are being widely tested and used in the provision of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). DSMES delivery through telemedicine, mobile apps, and population health management approaches with tracking DSMES delivery in large data repositories show great promise in promoting access and reach. Artificial intelligence approaches are also being assessed. While DSMES delivery via telehealth is constantly changing, the government shutdown has paused the voting for permanent coverage with temporary continued approval until 1/30/2026. The diabetes care and education community are keen to explore all opportunities in order to reach as many people living with diabetes with this essential component of care.”

Dr Sanjay Kalra

Bharti Hospital, Karnal, India

“Endocrinology is expanding, and evolving, for the better. Long considered an esoteric discipline, limited to just a few obscure clinical conditions, it has now transformed into an egalitarian and elegant science.

Changes in our lifestyle and environment have created an explosion of endocrine and metabolic diseases. One of these is obesity. Annus 2025 stands out as a year in which obesity medicine has come of age. Enhanced understanding of the endocrine causes, confounders and clinical features of obesity has facilitated the use of hormone-based interventions for its containment. The “prodigal peptides”, including single, dual and triple agonists and antagonists, have assured efficacy and safety while managing obesity. At the same time, unregulated use of these drugs may lead to unwanted side effects.

As responsible endocrinologists, we should develop the field of barocrinology. We must ensure evidence based, person-centred, endocrinology-led, multidisciplinary approach to obesity care.”

Professor Steve Bain

Swansea University, Swansea, UK

“For me, the diabetes highlights of the year are continued developments in the GLP-1 receptor agonist space. The massive update of these medicines in the private sector (Wegovy® and Mounjaro®) is something which we have never seen before in the UK. In addition, there is the forthcoming expansion of licences into liver and renal diseases, and even acknowledgement from NICE that early use is appropriate for people with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (in NG28). On the horizon are more dual (servotutide and maridebart cafraglutide) and triple (retatrutide) agonists as well as combination products (semaagltude-cagrilintide). Finally, a potential game-changer for 2026 will be the anticipated launch of orfoglipron, a non-peptide, once daily oral formulation for GLP-1 receptor agonism. Even the World Health Organization has issued its first guidance on the class. Exciting times ahead…..”