STAT+: As China’s drug industry races ahead, its GLP-1 race is accelerating too

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/17/china-drug-industry-biotech-glp1/?utm_campai...

Published: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000

China's pharmaceutical industry is rapidly developing and accelerating significantly in the field of GLP-1 drugs.[1] An example is Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, one of China's largest firms, which has developed a new-generation injectable slimming drug based on the blood sugar and appetite-regulating hormone GLP-1.[1] Kailera's startup has acquired licenses from China, skipping years of research, and is planning a phase three clinical trial in the US with the goal of launching in 2030 or earlier.[1] This drug could outperform competitors in early and mid-stage trials.[1] The market for GLP-1 therapies will exceed $200 billion by 2031.[2] Lilly had $550 million in year-end inventory of the oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron, although it has not been approved.[1] Novo Nordisk plans to launch oral semaglutide for the treatment of obesity in 2026.[2]