Chinese biotech aims to finish trials by 2028 for spray with Wegovy active ingredient

SHANGHAI, Feb 10 (Reuters) – Shanghai Shiling Pharmaceutical is aiming to complete global clinical trials by 2028 for an experimental weight-management spray that uses the same active ingredient as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy obesity injection, the Chinese biotech said on Tuesday.

Danish drugmaker Novo, Eli Lilly and China’s Innovent Biologics have been fighting for market share in China as patients in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market turn to highly effective once-weekly injections such as Wegovy, containing semaglutide.  

Shiling said in a statement to Reuters that its semaglutide nasal spray under development would be particularly suitable for long-term use, and the experimental drug’s cost was also lower than tablets containing semaglutide.

The company, which holds patents in China, the U.S., Europe and Southeast Asia, said it would advance into major pharmaceutical markets after completing the trials.

A spokesperson for Novo, whose patent on the semaglutide ingredient is set to expire in China in March, told Reuters “just want to remind you that the semaglutide patents are in effect until 2031/32 in EU/US.” 

Some Chinese drugmakers are also developing their own versions of Wegovy ahead of the expiration of Novo’s semaglutide ingredient patent in China.

(Reporting by Andrew Silver; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)