The weight loss version of semaglutide injection was only approved for listing by the National Medical Products Administration in June 2024 and officially commercialized in November 2024, with sales of only 196 million Danish kroner (US$28 million). However, Novo Nordisk’s obesity care product sales in China (calculated in Danish kroner) increased by 104% year-on-year. The oral version of semaglutide was approved for listing by the National Medical Products Administration in January 2024 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and achieved sales of 511 million Danish kroner (US$74 million) in 2024. In January this year, Novo Nordisk announced in Beijing that oral semaglutide tablets were fully launched in China, and the product will be further sold in China. Novo Nordisk is also promoting the weight loss indication of the oral version of semaglutide, which is already in the phase III clinical research stage.

In this case, if semaglutide is used instead of insulin, it will not work for patients who need insulin. The introduction of innovative biosimilars, like Jiyoutai, promises to improve patient access and lower treatment costs. Plus, the recent approval of Wegovy, another semaglutide formulation, enriches the therapeutic options available. With at least 11 Chinese companies progressing through clinical trials, the place of injectable medications in diabetes care is set for remarkable expansion and diversification.

• Compounding pharmacies serve an important role in the US health care system, offering, for example, ways for patients with allergies to get custom-mixed versions of lifesaving drugs.
• In 2012, a compounding pharmacy caused a fungal meningitis outbreak that killed at least 64 people, among the worst pharmaceutical drug-contamination disasters in the United States.
• Clinical studies have demonstrated that it can effectively regulate blood sugar levels by lowering blood sugar levels by a significant amount.
• This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly.

Semaglutide Mania in China: Inside the Biosimilar Gold Rush

The emergence of semaglutide biosimilars in China is a pivotal response to the escalating obesity crisis, profoundly influencing drug efficacy and market dynamics. With Novo Nordisk’s patent expiration approaching in 2026, numerous Chinese firms, including Jiyoutai, are vigorously developing biosimilars to replicate the effects of Ozempic, a leading medication for diabetes and weight management. With Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide set to launch in China by July 2024 following patent expiration, the market will welcome biosimilar competition. Chinese pharmaceutical companies, including Huadong Medicine, are advancing through clinical trials, positioning themselves to compete with established products like Ozempic. This burgeoning competitive place fosters innovation and promises more affordable treatment options for patients. The emergence of GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, marks a pivotal shift in obesity management.

The drop off will likely not reach the same levels in the US, given the more consolidated pricing structure in China. Semaglutide is already significantly cheaper in China compared to the US due to its government’s price negotiation policy, with a one-month supply of the 0.25mg starter dose of Wegovy costing around 1,400 yuan ($193). We have advanced precision instruments and equipment ,so we can independently control product content, pesticide residue, physical and chemical properties, microorganisms, heavy metals and other quality indicators. These advancements herald a brighter future for obesity treatment in China, remarkably impacting public health outcomes. The outcome could be a price-crushing free-for-all or a more measured market shaped by court rulings and innovative challengers. Novo’s U.S. price cut shows how global dynamics may spill into China, reinforcing that survival will hinge on legal wins, strategic differentiation, and escaping the “involution” trap.

Currently, over 11 firms, including Huadong Medicine and Livzon New North River, are advancing through clinical trials for semaglutide biosimilars. The emergence of semaglutide biosimilars in China is a critical response to the country’s growing obesity crisis. With Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic set to lose patent protection in 2026, the competitive place is intensifying. A key player is the Chinese biosimilar Jiyoutai, which is currently undergoing market approval review. This product has the potential to remarkably challenge Ozempic’s dominance, especially as over 11 Chinese firms progress through clinical trials for comparable therapies. This means that drugmakers “need to swallow hefty price cuts” to get their products listed on China’s list of drugs that are covered by state-funded medical insurance, Business Insider reported.

However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Qijian-bio, a reliable B2B trader from China, dispatches semaglutide primarily through the port at China. Packaging types (e.g., bulk, custom, eco-friendly) and estimated pricing may vary based on order volume and destination.

Pharmaceutical Development Trends in Chinese Biopharmaceuticals

As the approval process accelerates, these state-of-the-art biosimilars are poised to improve accessibility and lower costs, in the end benefiting patients. The rapid approval of Wegovy, marketed as NovoCare in China, exemplifies this trend, with semaglutide becoming available for weight management just five months after regulatory clearance. Recent trends reveal a significant uptick in applications, with over 11 Chinese firms approaching the final stages of clinical trials for semaglutide generics. Remarkably, Jiuyuan Gene’s marketing application could lead to China’s initial biosimilar approval. This competitive environment not only addresses the growing obesity epidemic but also aims to provide affordable alternatives, as illustrated by Wegovy’s recent market introduction at approximately $193.27 per month.

This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed. To learn more about key domestic and multinational company drugs launching into the Mainland China marketplace, please download our Drugs to Watch 2024 report. Chinese biotechs are pushing ahead with developing candidates to take advantage of the impending commercial opportunity. GlobalData states that 16 companies are developing generic versions across various clinical phases, with a slew already at Phase III. United Laboratories, Huadong Medicine, and Qilu Pharmaceutical, amongst others, have generic semaglutide assets at this final clinical phase.

As Mainland China faces a pressing obesity crisis, the introduction of semaglutide biosimilars is critical. These medications mimic natural hormones, boosting insulin secretion and suppressing appetite, which promotes effective weight loss. The first GLP-1 drug was made semaglutide california where to buy by copying a chemical found in the venom of the Gila monster.

All products are sold for research, laboratory, or analytical purposes only, and are not for human consumption. Biotech Peptides is not a compounding pharmacy or chemical compounding facility as defined under 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act. Biotech Peptides is not an outsourcing facility as defined under 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act. However, Novo has mounted a legal effort to extend its patent in the country. The pharma is also challenging a previous patent ruling that found its protections over semaglutide to be invalid, according to Reuters. The Chinese company announced in April 2024 that it had filed for approval for the candidate and is expecting a decision in the latter half of 2025.