Novo Nordisk has submitted an application to China’s drug regulator for approval to market an oral version of its GLP-1 weight-loss drug Wegovy. The Danish pharmaceutical company confirmed on Thursday that the submission was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration, the country’s top drug regulator.
The move positions Novo Nordisk to compete with Eli Lilly in China’s rapidly expanding obesity treatment market. Both companies are developing oral formulations of their GLP-1 drugs—Wegovy for Novo Nordisk and orforglipron for Eli Lilly—as alternatives to injectable treatments. Eli Lilly secured U.S. approval for orforglipron in April and submitted a marketing application to China’s regulator by the end of 2025.
China’s National Health Commission projects that over 65% of the population could be classified as overweight or obese by 2030, underscoring the potential demand for weight-loss medications. The market, already valued at over $100 billion, has become a key battleground for global and domestic drugmakers, including Pfizer and Innovent Biologics.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a gut hormone to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar, have driven significant growth in the sector. Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly injectable Wegovy has led the category, while Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound have also gained traction. The shift toward oral formulations aims to broaden patient adoption by addressing concerns over injection-based therapies.
China’s drug regulator’s acceptance of Novo Nordisk’s application follows the company’s recent launches of the Wegovy pill in the United States and Britain. The oral version is expected to reach the U.S. market this year, pending regulatory clearance.
