Select Language:
Prices for imported weight-loss medications in China, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, are significantly decreasing as patent protections near expiration, paving the way for domestic generic versions to enter the market.
Wegovy’s price has dropped by approximately 50%, now costing around CNY987.48 (about USD141) per pre-filled injection pen, down from CNY1,893.67 (roughly USD270). This reduction is confirmed by data from the regional drug procurement platform and a provincial bidding and procurement service. Several online retailers have also slashed their prices for the medication.
A spokesperson from the manufacturer explained that they voluntarily reduced prices to make the treatment more affordable and improve patient adherence.
At the same time, online sellers have lowered the pre-sale price of Mounjaro to as low as CNY450 (approximately USD64) per pre-filled pen, a significant drop from the previous official price of CNY2,180 (roughly USD311). Deliveries at the new price point are scheduled to begin on January 5.
These price reductions are driven by increased competition in the market for GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs. The patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is set to expire in China on March 20, prompting several domestic companies to develop their own generic versions.
According to data from a Chinese biopharmaceutical consulting firm, ten domestically produced semaglutide drugs are currently seeking approval, along with several other innovative GLP-1 therapies in the approval pipeline.
An industry insider stated that these price cuts mean that imported brands will no longer benefit from their previous high profit margins, although the new prices are expected to remain profitable. The developments are anticipated to significantly influence industry dynamics and set market prices for upcoming weight-loss medications.
Wegovy hit the Chinese market in November of last year, followed by Mounjaro’s introduction in January of this year.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
