Eli Lilly gains China approval for Mounjaro ingredient, Tripeptide

 CHINA—Eli Lilly and Company has secured approval from Chinese regulators to market tripeptide, the active ingredient in both Mounjaro, an injectable diabetes medication, and Zepbound, a weight-loss treatment.

This pivotal regulatory nod from the Chinese National Medical Products Administration marks a significant milestone for Eli Lilly, as it intensifies the competition with its Danish counterpart, Novo Nordisk, in the Asian market.

The approval comes in the wake of recent research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

This study revealed that tripeptide leads to more substantial weight loss compared to semaglutide, the primary component of Novo Nordisk’s popular medications, Ozempic and Wegovy.

With the patent for semaglutide set to expire in China in 2026, the timing of this approval is crucial for Eli Lilly. It underscores tripeptide’s growing clinical value in managing both obesity and diabetes.

Mounjaro, which is known as mufongda in China, was previously authorized solely for diabetes treatment. It stands out as the region’s first and only glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

This novel approval is particularly significant because Mounjaro combines the mechanisms of both GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonism. This dual-action approach effectively manages blood sugar levels while also aiding in weight loss.

The dual-action nature of mufongda is noteworthy. It works by actively binding to and activating the necessary receptors, which helps reduce food intake, body weight, and fat mass through effective appetite regulation.

This mechanism positions it as an appealing long-term option for weight management, especially for individuals with BMIs that meet therapeutic criteria.

Despite this historic achievement, Eli Lilly has not yet disclosed specific details regarding the drug’s sales launch in China or the projected distribution volume.

According to Reuters, the market remains uncertain due to the absence of concrete sales information.

 In response to this groundbreaking development, Eli Lilly’s stock saw a notable increase of 1.4%, reaching US$860.50 during the premarket session on July 19.

This positive market reaction reflects investor confidence in Eli Lilly’s global expansion efforts and the potential impact of the new product approval.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters  with  latest news updates and  insights from Africa and the World HERE