Novo Nordisk says its Wegovy weight-loss drug wins China approval By Reuters

By Andrew Silver

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk said on Tuesday its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy has been approved in China, paving the way for its sales in the world’s second-largest economy.

Novo said in March that it would initially focus on patients paying out-of-pocket for the weekly injectable drug, which has seen strong demand in other markets, once approved in China.

The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on its launch plan including costs and expected supplies of the weight-loss treatment in China.

The latest approval comes as Novo faces an expiry of its patent on its active ingredient in less than two years in China and as domestic drugmakers are racing to develop generic versions.

Ozempic won approval from China in 2021 and Novo saw sales of the drug in the greater China region double to 4.8 billion Danish crowns ($698 million) last year.