Dorzagliatin (HuaTangNing) is an oral glucokinase activator that is being developed by Hua Medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Dorzagliatin improves glycaemic control by activating pancreatic and hepatic glucokinase in a glucose-dependent manner. In September 2022, dorzagliatin (with diet control and exercise) as monotherapy and as an add-on to metformin (when glycaemic control is inadequate with metformin alone) was approved in China for improving glycaemic control in adult patients with T2DM. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of dorzagliatin leading to this first approval.