Novo Nordisk has recently launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in China after it was approved by the local health authorities in June.
This launch is set to heighten the competition with rival Eli Lilly, whose popular weight-loss treatment also got the go ahead months ago but has yet to go on sale in the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market.
Over 180 million people suffer from obesity in China, which has a population of 1.4 billion.
And according to Chinese business news website Yicai, a dose of four Wegovy injections will cost 1,400 yuan (£153; $194), a fraction of the drug’s price in the United States.
Yicai’s report also revealed ghat patients in China will have to pay the full price for the treatment, as the drug has not been included in the national healthcare insurance.
Research even suggests that Wegovy patients can lose more than 10% of their body weight.
In a post on Chinese app, WeChat, Novo Nordisk said its treatment “will provide a safe and effective weight loss option for overweight and obese patients in China”.
The product is aimed at people who are severely overweight. Wegovy’s active ingredient is a medicine called semaglutide, which helps control blood sugar, reduces appetite, and makes patients feel fuller. It is also the active ingredient in which popular sister drug, Ozempic, uses to treat type 2 diabetes.
There are however, side effects for some users, which include nausea and vomiting. Research also shows that patients often put weight back on after stopping treatment.
Wegovy went on sale in the US in 2021 and a month’s supply currently costs $1,349.
Perhaps promoted by a social media buzz and celebrity endorsements including Elon Musk, the drug has since been a hot selling product around the world.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has asked doctors to be alert for patients who may be abusing obesity injections such as Wegovy.
This is following reports that some people who were not obese fell sick after using the jabs for weight loss.
Wegovy’s popularity has transformed its maker, Novo Nordisk, into Europe’s most valuable company and it currently has a total market value of of more than $440bn.
