Shanghai Biotech Firms Advance New Obesity Drug Alternatives

Chinese pharmaceutical companies are expanding efforts to develop new obesity treatments as the market for weight-management drugs grows and patents approach expiration.

Shanghai Shiling Pharmaceutical is working on a nasal spray for weight management that uses semaglutide, which is also the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injection. The company has set a target to finish global clinical trials for this spray by 2028, positioning itself among several firms pursuing similar products.

Novo Nordisk’s patent for semaglutide in China is scheduled to expire in March 2026. This timeline has prompted other Chinese drugmakers to begin developing their own versions of Wegovy before the patent lapses, aiming to enter the market with alternative formulations.

In June 2024, Chinese regulators approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injection for long-term weight management. This approval marked a milestone for the introduction of GLP-1-based therapies in the country and set the stage for further competition.

What the numbers show

• Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide patent expires in China in March 2026
• Shanghai Shiling aims to complete global trials for its nasal spray by 2028
• Ecnoglutide showed 9–13% bodyweight reduction over 48 weeks in Phase 3 trials

Innogen, another Chinese pharmaceutical company, is conducting late-stage clinical trials for its own experimental weight-loss drug and expects to complete these trials by 2026. This activity reflects a broader trend among domestic firms to develop new therapies for obesity management.

In January 2026, Ecnoglutide, a novel GLP-1 analog, received marketing approval in China after Phase 3 trial data showed a reduction in bodyweight of 9 to 13 percent over 48 weeks. This approval added another option to the range of obesity treatments available in the country.

Chinese biotech companies are also focusing on the development of GLP-1 and multi-agonist drugs, including agents that target two or three pathways simultaneously. These efforts are part of a wider movement to broaden the range of obesity therapies beyond single-action medications.

With multiple companies advancing clinical programs and new approvals being granted, the landscape for obesity drug development in China is becoming more diverse. The expiration of key patents and the introduction of novel agents are contributing to increased activity in this sector.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.