China’s Weight-loss Drug Makers Take On Global Giants As Novo Nordisk Patent Expires

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At least 10 weight-loss injections and oral pills are lining up for regulatory approval in China, in a market projected to reach about US$14 billion by 2030.

Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster semaglutide, which generated about US$35 billion in global revenue last year, lost patent protection in China on March 20, clearing the way for rivals.

The rush comes as China’s drug regulator accelerates approvals of innovative therapies, helped by a surge in out-licensing deals with global pharmaceutical giants.

Notable applicants included Hengrui Medicine, China’s largest listed pharmaceutical firm by revenue, and Innovent Biologics, whose lower-dose version of mazdutide became the first home-grown obesity drug approved in China for chronic weight management, according to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

Both Hengrui Pharma’s ribupatide and Innovent’s higher-dose mazdutide have reported phase 3 trial data suggesting greater weight-loss efficacy than semaglutide.

Hengrui’s once-weekly injection delivered 17.7 per cent average weight loss at its highest dose of 6 milligrams at 48 weeks, while Innovent’s 9mg of mazdutide achieved an 18.55 per cent average weight reduction at week 60, the companies’ trials showed.

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