Novo Nordisk plans to submit its oral version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy for regulatory approval in China. CEO Mike Doustdar announced on June 16 that the company will file the application within a few months.
The move positions Novo Nordisk to compete directly with rival Eli Lilly in the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market. An oral tablet provides an alternative for patients who prefer pills over the current injectable format.
The Chinese patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, expired in March. Novo Nordisk maintains regulatory data protection for the product until early 2027.