In a move likely to intensify competition in the burgeoning Chinese market for weight loss drugs, Eli Lilly announced via social media Friday that regulators there have signed off on its popular dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide. The approval comes less than a month after Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) gained a similar authorisation in the critical Asian market. The rapid approvals of weight loss medicines underscores the Chinese regulator's recognition of rising obesity rates in the country. The latest national survey conducted during 2015-2019 by China's National Health Commission found that 34.3% of China's adult population is overweight, with 16.4% reported as obese. The approval of Zepbound in China also comes at a time when Lilly is working to ramp up its production capabilities globally. The company recently invested $5.3 billion to expand an Indiana production site in a bid to alleviate shortages for both Mounjaro and Zepbound. That was on top of a previous $3.7-billion commitment. Novo has been working to solve supply challenges for its GLP-1 drugs as well, including via plans to build a $4.1-billion fill-finish facility in the US. The company said it would also expand a manufacturing site in Tianjin, China, which is expected to be operational in 2027. …as competition intensifies
A retrospective observational study published in JAMA Internal Medicine recently gave Lilly's drug a weight-loss edge over Wegovy, potentially foreshadowing results from an ongoing head-to-head trial between the two GLP-1 heavyweights. For further analysis, see Vital Signs: Roche’s second obesity hit.