Pfizer enters China’s weight-loss market as regulators approve the GLP-1 drug Xianweiying

CHINA—China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved Pfizer’s weight-loss treatment Xianweiying for patients with obesity, less than two weeks after the pharmaceutical giant secured commercial rights to the drug.

The approval enables Pfizer to enter the lucrative weight-loss market in the world’s most populous country, where obesity rates continue to rise.

Pfizer secured marketing rights to the GLP-1 compound ecnoglutide through a partnership with Hangzhou-based Sciwind Biosciences announced last month.

The agreement has a total value of up to USD 495 million, combining upfront payments with potential milestone payments.

The NMPA previously approved ecnoglutide five weeks ago as a Type 2 diabetes treatment under the brand name Xianyida.

Division of Responsibilities

Under the partnership terms, Sciwind maintains control over research and development activities for ecnoglutide while handling manufacturing and supply operations.

Pfizer focuses on commercializing the treatment within China’s healthcare market.

Sciwind promotes Xianweiying as offering a “precise new pathway” for weight reduction, highlighting its cAMP-based mechanism of action.

The company claims ecnoglutide sustains weight loss without reaching an obvious plateau phase, distinguishing it from competing treatments.

Clinical Performance

A 48-week clinical trial demonstrated significant results for patients receiving the highest ecnoglutide dose.

Participants achieved average weight loss of 15.4% from baseline measurements.

Nearly 93% of trial participants reached clinically meaningful weight reductions of at least 5%, meeting key efficacy benchmarks for obesity treatments.

Competitive Landscape

Pfizer joins established players Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in China’s expanding weight-loss market.

Eli Lilly markets its tirzepatide products in the country while partnering with Suzhou-based Innovent to commercialize mazdutide, a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist.

Chinese regulators approved mazdutide for weight loss in June last year.

The companies expanded their collaboration last month to include medicines targeting cancer and immune disorders.

Overcoming Pipeline Setbacks

Pfizer has pursued multiple strategies to establish its presence in the obesity market after encountering development challenges.

The company discontinued its third and final internal GLP-1 obesity candidate in early August following disappointing clinical data.

The pharmaceutical company then pursued external acquisitions, purchasing Metsera for up to USD 10 billion in November, after outbidding Novo Nordisk in a competitive process.

Metsera’s lead candidate, PF-08653944, achieved at least a 14% weight loss at 28 weeks of treatment.

Guggenheim Securities analysts noted that these results compared favourably with those of other GLP-1 competitors.

Pfizer also paid USD150 million upfront to acquire worldwide rights to YP05002, a GLP-1 agonist developed by Yao Pharma, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Fosun Pharmaceuticals.

These strategic acquisitions demonstrate Pfizer’s commitment to building a competitive portfolio of obesity treatments through external partnerships and licensing agreements.