Strategic price cuts to bolster market dominance The Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has significantly reduced the price of its blockbuster weight-loss drug, Wegovy, in China. Local reports indicate that list prices for the two highest dosage strengths have been cut by as much as 48%. In provinces such as Yunnan and Sichuan, the monthly treatment cost has dropped to between 987 yuan and 1,284 yuan.
The drugmaker stated that the reduction aims to improve patient accessibility and ease the treatment burden as the demand for obesity management continues to surge in the region.
Defending market share against domestic rivals China is rapidly becoming a pivotal market for anti-obesity medications. Health experts estimate that over 65% of the country’s 1.4 billion population could be overweight or obese by 2030. Novo Nordisk is bracing for two major shifts:
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Patent Expiry: The semaglutide patent in China is set to expire in 2026, opening the door for generic competition.
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Domestic Competition: Local firms, including CSPC Pharmaceutical Group and Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic, are aggressively developing or marketing semaglutide-based biosimilars.
A global pricing trend This move follows similar strategies in other key regions. Last month, Novo Nordisk lowered Wegovy’s price by up to 37% in India and coordinated with Eli Lilly to reduce costs in the United States. By proactively cutting prices, the company seeks to maintain its competitive edge and secure patient loyalty before lower-cost competitors flood China’s expanding obesity drug market.
Source: https://vohnetwork.com/news/pharma/novo-nordisk-lowers-wegovy-pricing-in-china-before-patent-expiry