Drugs for weight loss are becoming more popular in China.

 

Ozempic was approved in China to treat diabetes in 2021, but it has been its anti-obesity ingredient, semaglutide, that has fuelled demand for what many Chinese refer to as the “internet celebrity weight-loss drug”. Chinese female influencers and vloggers have promoted the use of Ozempic on Chinese social media

Chinese pharmaceutical companies are racing to roll out weight-loss drugs amid the popularity of Ozempic.

Last year, the Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk doubled its sales of the diabetes drug in the country to almost $700m – 5 percent of Ozempic’s global sales.

Ozempic was approved in China to treat diabetes in 2021, but it has been its anti-obesity ingredient, semaglutide, that has fuelled demand for what many Chinese refer to as the “internet celebrity weight-loss drug”.

Ozempic, originally approved in China for diabetes treatment in 2021, has gained significant popularity for its anti-obesity ingredient, semaglutide, becoming known as the “internet celebrity weight-loss drug.” Chinese social media influencers have widely promoted Ozempic, linking it to various beauty challenges that emphasize thinness. This trend reflects a broader societal obsession with thinness as the ideal beauty standard, driving many, especially young women, to pursue extreme measures for weight loss.

China, facing a high prevalence of obesity with half its population overweight, presents a lucrative market for weight-loss drugs. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are both seeking regulatory approval to market their weight-loss drugs, Ozempic and Tirzepatide, respectively. Additionally, Chinese company Hangzhou Jiuyuan Gene Engineering is pursuing approval for a homegrown competitor.

However, the demand for these drugs has outstripped supply, leading to price hikes and a surge in counterfeit products. The Chinese government has increased regulation, removing social media posts promoting unregulated weight-loss drugs and prosecuting sellers of illegal products.

The competition in the weight-loss drug market is intense, with capacity constraints being a significant issue. Novo Nordisk is also engaged in a patent dispute with Huadong Medicine over semaglutide, which could affect market dynamics if the patent is invalidated, allowing more Chinese companies to produce similar drugs.

Chinese authorities' regulatory actions and their impact on market competition between domestic and foreign firms remain under scrutiny. The outcome of such regulatory and patent decisions will be crucial in shaping the future landscape of the weight-loss drug market in China.

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