A DRUGMAKER in China has developed a biosimilar version of Novo Nordisk’s popular diabetes drug Ozempic and applied for approval to sell it there, in a potential challenge to Novo’s expansion plans in the country.
Hangzhou Jiuyuan Gene Engineering said on Wednesday (Apr 3) in a post on its official social media account that it was seeking approval to sell the drug, which it calls Jiyoutai, to control blood sugar in patients with type two diabetes.
Novo’s patents in China on Ozempic and related drug Wegovy are set to expire in 2026, according to its annual report.
Approval for Jiyoutai would make the injectible drug China’s first locally developed biosimilar semaglutide drug. A biosimilar drug has a structure that closely mimics an existing biologic drug but is not exactly alike.
The application for approval comes amid surging demand for semaglutide that is far outpacing supply globally.
Jiuyuan Gene, which is majority owned by China’s Huadong Medicine, completed a late-stage clinical trial in China last year comparing its semaglutide injection with Ozempic in 476 patients, according to a clinical trials registry.
The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Jiyoutai’s safety or efficacy data.
Novo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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