Chinese drugmakers are becoming more eager to grab a slice of the growing market for Ozempic in China amid the craze for the drug.
Though primarily used for treating diabetes, Ozempic has become a highly sought-after drug worldwide due to its purported weight loss effects. In China, where societal beauty standards prioritize extreme thinness, the frenzy surrounding Ozempic has led to shortages of the medication in the country.
Social Media Hype and Shortages
Chinese social media platforms, such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu, have been inundated with posts from users boasting about significant weight loss achieved with just a few injections of Ozempic (semaglutide). The posts, often accompanied by exaggerated claims, have fueled the drug’s popularity as a “wonder drug” for weight loss, according to CNN.
While Ozempic has been officially approved in China for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, medical experts cautioned against its use for weight loss. Studies and patient reports suggested that weight rebound is common once the injections are discontinued. Despite these concerns, the soaring demand for Ozempic has caused shortages in many hospitals and drugstores across China since late last year, affecting patients with diabetes who depend on the medication.
Growing Market and Competing Manufacturers
The weight loss drug market in China is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. A government report from late 2020 revealed that over 50% of adults in China were overweight, highlighting the potential market size. Total sales of diabetes drugs, including semaglutide, could reach 40 billion yuan ($5.6 billion), a more than 600% increase from the current market size, according to an estimate by Shanghai-based Tebon Securities, per CNN.
Both Western and Chinese drugmakers are eager to tap into this growing market. Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical firm behind Ozempic, has applied to China’s drug regulator to expand the scope of semaglutide’s use,…
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