Novo Nordisk has launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in China, marking a significant milestone after the treatment was approved by local health authorities in June. The move is expected to heighten competition with rival Eli Lilly, whose weight-loss drug was also approved months ago but has yet to be released in China, the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.
With over 180 million people living with obesity in China, Wegovy’s entry is seen as a key opportunity to address a growing public health concern. The country, with a population of 1.4 billion, faces rising rates of obesity, making the market for weight-loss treatments highly promising.
According to the Chinese business news website Yicai, a four-dose treatment of Wegovy will cost approximately 1,400 yuan (£153; $194), which is a fraction of its price in the United States. However, the treatment is not currently covered by China’s national healthcare insurance, meaning patients will need to pay the full cost out-of-pocket.
Wegovy, which has shown to help patients lose more than 10% of their body weight, contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which controls blood sugar levels, reduces appetite, and helps users feel fuller for longer. The same ingredient is used in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, a drug designed for type 2 diabetes treatment.
The company announced on the Chinese social media platform WeChat that Wegovy would offer a “safe and effective weight loss option for overweight and obese patients in China.” Despite its promising benefits, Wegovy may cause side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, and research indicates that patients may regain weight once they stop the treatment.
Wegovy first went on sale in the United States in 2021, where a month’s supply currently costs around $1,349. The drug gained rapid popularity, fueled by social media buzz and endorsements from high-profile users like Elon Musk. Its success has made Novo Nordisk Europe’s most valuable company, with a market capitalization exceeding $440 billion.
In the UK, concerns have arisen about the misuse of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, with reports of patients without obesity using the drug for weight loss purposes, sometimes resulting in illness. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has warned doctors to be vigilant for potential misuse of obesity injections.
As Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy enters the Chinese market, it is set to further disrupt the global weight-loss drug industry, intensifying competition with other pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly in the rapidly expanding market for weight management solutions.
