China's Drug Regulator Reviews Novo Nordisk's Oral Wegovy Application
Competition and Market Dynamics in China's Weight-Loss Drug Sector
SHANGHAI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk said on Thursday that China's drug regulator had accepted its application to sell the oral version of its GLP-1 weight-loss drug Wegovy, as the Danish drugmaker seeks to catch up with rival Eli Lilly in the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market.
Major Players and Market Share
Novo, Lilly, Pfizer and local firm Innovent Biologics are competing for market share with their versions of once-weekly GLP-1 weight-loss injections in China, as the country's National Health Commission has said the rate of overweight or obese people could reach more than 65% by 2030.
Patient Preferences and Drug Delivery Methods
Novo and Lilly believe weight-loss pills could attract patients reluctant to use injections.
Regulatory Approvals and Launch Timelines
International Approvals
Novo has received early approval in the U.S. and Britain for its Wegovy pill and launched it in the U.S. this year. Lilly followed quickly, securing U.S. approval in April for its oral orforglipron, also belonging to the GLP-1 class of drugs that mimic a gut hormone to curb appetite and regulate blood sugar in patients with diabetes.
China Market Entry
In China, Lilly moved first. The company said in March it submitted a marketing application for once-daily orforglipron to the Chinese regulator at the end of 2025. It could launch in China as soon as this year, an executive at the U.S. drugmaker has told Reuters.
Uncertainties in Approval Timelines
Novo did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours on how long China's approval for the Wegovy pill might take.
Market Growth and Financial Projections
Sales of GLP-1 therapies for weight management could reach 30 billion yuan ($4.46 billion) in the next five to seven years, up from an estimated 3 billion to 4 billion yuan at present, Yang Huang, J.P. Morgan's head of China healthcare research, told Reuters recently.
Exchange Rate Information
($1 = 6.7209 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Rashmi Aich)
