The core compound patent for semaglutide expired officially in China on March 20, 2026, marking the end of the original drug’s exclusivity period. Domestic generic drugs are about to enter the market, and drug prices have already shown a significant decline. ‌‌‌
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What changes occur after a Chinese patent expires
Accelerated Generic Drug Applications: After patent expiration, 10 Chinese pharmaceutical companies have submitted registration applications for semaglutide biosimilars to the National Medical Products Administration, with multiple domestic generic drugs in the final stages of approval. ‌‌‌
The price of the original drug has been reduced: Before and after the patent expiration, Novo Nordisk proactively adjusted its pricing strategy, with some specifications seeing price cuts of over 50%
The glucose-lowering version (1.34mg/mL, 1.5mL prefilled) has dropped from 1,120 yuan per unit to 478.8 yuan per unit.
Weight-reduced version 2.27mg/mL (3mL pre-filled) from 1,893.67 CNY/branch to 987.48 CNY/branch.
Some prices on e-commerce platforms have dropped to as low as 300 to 400 yuan. ‌‌‌
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Intensified market competition: In addition to generic drugs, Novo Nordisk also faces competition from similar medications like Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, which surpassed semaglutide to become the world’s top-selling drug by 2025.