Price reductions for obesity drugs have started in China.

Price Reductions from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk

Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) are making notable price reductions due to increasing competition in the obesity drug market in China. This strategic move has resulted in a significant drop in prices, particularly for GLP-1-based products.

Price Drop of Wegovy

According to China-based Yicai, Novo Nordisk has halved the list prices of the highest two doses of its popular GLP-1 treatment Wegovy in some provinces. This discount is being made because the active ingredient semaglutide's patent protection will expire in March.

Easier Market Entry

The expiration of semaglutide's patent presents a significant opportunity for local drug manufacturers. Companies like CSPC Pharmaceutical Group and Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic Biopharmaceutical are preparing to launch their own versions of Wegovy. This will increase competition and provide consumers with more options.

Price Reductions and Market Trends

Eli Lilly announced that it will reduce the price of the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro, used for weight loss, starting January 1. On China’s popular food delivery platform Meituan, the 10 mg Mounjaro injector pen is listed at 445 yuan (63 dollars). This price is significantly lower than the previous value of 2,180 yuan.

Additionally, the obesity treatment Xinermei, launched by Innovent Biologics in July, has accelerated the price reductions from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Xinermei has become the third GLP-1 injection, administered weekly in China, following Wegovy and Mounjaro.