Innovent wins China approval for obesity drug mazdutide

30 June 2025

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved Innovent Biologics’ (HKEX: 01801) mazdutide, a first-in-class dual glucagon (GCG)/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, for chronic weight management in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity.

Mazdutide, licensed from US pharma major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) in March 2020 for the Chinese market, is the world's first dual GCG/GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for weight loss, offering a unique mechanism that enhances weight-loss efficacy while reducing visceral fat and delivering comprehensive metabolic benefits, and named by Fierce Pharma as one of the top ten most anticipated drugs globally in 2025, Innovent pointed out. Mazdutide is also under NMPA review for type 2 diabetes.

According to Bloomberg Intelligence analysts, the drug could reach sales of $1.3 billion in the country by 2030, given its comparable weight-loss rate to Lilly's blockbuster Zepbound (tirzepatide), a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist

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