Novo Nordisk has announced a reduction in the price of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in China, as the Danish pharmaceutical major prepares for tougher competition from domestic manufacturers once the drug’s patent expires next year.
While the company did not disclose revised pricing details, Chinese business news outlet Yicai reported that the list prices of Wegovy’s two highest-dose variants have been slashed by about 48% in certain regions. According to the report, monthly prices have fallen to around 987 yuan ($141) and 1,284 yuan respectively in some provinces.
Confirming the move, Novo Nordisk told Reuters that it is adjusting Wegovy’s pricing in the Chinese market. The company said the decision is aimed at easing the financial burden on patients and improving access to treatment.
China represents a major growth opportunity for obesity drugs, with estimates suggesting that more than 65% of its 1.4 billion population could be overweight or obese by 2030.
Novo Nordisk’s patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is set to expire in China in 2026, opening the door for competition. Several Chinese pharmaceutical companies, including CSPC Pharmaceutical Group and Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic Biopharmaceutical Co, are already developing generic versions and alternative treatments.
According to Yicai, the price cuts are being implemented in southwestern provinces such as Yunnan and Sichuan, based on information from local procurement authorities. The move follows similar strategies in other markets: Novo reduced Wegovy prices by up to 37% in India last month and, in November, both Novo Nordisk and U.S.-based rival Eli Lilly agreed to lower prices in the United States as they increasingly target self-paying consumers.
