China's Innogen expects to complete weight-loss drug trials next year
Chinese companies are rushing to develop drugs belonging to the GLP-1 class of medications for weight loss and related conditions as the patent of Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO), opens new tab semaglutide, a key active ingredient in its best-selling Ozempic and Wegovy drugs, is due to end in early 2026 in China.
"I think the Phase IIB will be out by the end of this year, then Phase III will be (finished) by next year,' Innogen CEO Wang Qinghua told Reuters in an interview about the company's experimental drug candidate.
Initial results from an early trial, published in June, opens new tab, showed people on the experimental efsubaglutide alfa injection lost about 7% of their body weight after four weeks.
By comparison, large-scale trials over a longer period for Novo's weight-loss drug Wegovy helped people lose an average 15% of their body weight, according to its clinical trial data.
Wang said the efficacy in Innogen's experimental injection was not fully visible in the firm's drug study because of the short evaluation time, adding the company expects to get more significant weight reduction as it continues with more studies.
Chinese regulators have already approved the Shanghai-based company's self-developed efsubaglutide alfa as a once-weekly injection for the control of Type 2 diabetes in January.
Yurou Zheng, an analyst at Morningstar, said the near-term challenge for weight-loss drugs in China would be potential price competition, as more drugs are coming online.
"I think many users are more likely to pivot to cheaper options if the efficacy profiles are similar or even slightly less superior as long as they are well within a few percentage points," he said in a note.
On Friday, Chinese drugmaker Innovent Biologics (1801.HK), opens new tab became the latest local company entering the increasingly crowded weight-loss drug market, saying its treatment mazdutide, which is licensed from Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab, was approved by the country's regulators.
The Suzhou-based firm said in June that a Phase III trial showed that after 24 weeks of treatment, 6 mg of mazdutide led to about an 8% change in body weight from baseline.
Underscoring growing competitive pressure in China, India's Biocon (BION.NS), opens new tab dropped plans to commercialise its weight loss drugs in China, a senior executive told Reuters last week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
I became a ‘hot girl' after losing three stone on fat jabs, but a mortifying side effect nearly ruined my life
AFTER losing three stone on fat jabs, Emmie Barwise loved nothing more than picking out a stylish outfit to showcase her svelte new figure. However, there was one accessory she wasn't expecting to add to her wardrobe. 6 6 As well as figure-hugging dresses and thigh skimming skirts, Emmie was forced to start wearing panty liners daily. Aside from her astonishing weight-loss, incontinence has been an unwelcome side effect of taking Mounjaro. The 34-year-old explains: 'It would happen when I laughed, coughed or sneezed. "I wet myself during one date, I never imagined that could happen with the jab. 'It was so frustrating, I finally felt confident enough to go on dates but I spent the whole time worrying it would happen. 'It was humiliating - I was a hot girl who couldn't pull.' Events manager and single mum Emmie, who lives in Manchester with her 12-year-old daughter, says the unfortunate side-effect made her self-conscious She admits: 'I constantly worried that I smelt of wee. 'It was really off-putting and something I never imagined I would have to deal with.' Emmie says she began struggling with her weight last year when she started comfort eating during the winter months. Doc gives advice on how to tackle Mounjaro side effect of excess loose skin She says: 'I loved a good takeaway, a bottle of wine and chocolates. 'It was so cold last year, I found myself indulging way too much.' By Christmas, the mum realised she'd gained three stone in just two months. 'As well as my main job, I also do catalogue modelling,' she says. 'I knew I needed to lose weight as I noticed I was losing work since gaining weight.' A mortified Emmie hit the gym but found it hard to shift the pounds. 'I had friends who were using weight loss jabs, I'd heard good things and decided to give them a go,' she says. In January, Emmie bought Mounjarno on a private prescription, paying £150 a month for the jabs. 6 6 6 'As soon as I started taking the jabs my food noise disappeared for the first time in my life,' she says. But while Emmie quickly noticed her weight falling off, she soon became aware of her unfortunate side effect too. She says: 'In the first four weeks, I lost seven pounds and felt amazing. 'But around the same time, I had been chatting to a man at a bar when I realised I had wet myself. 'It was just a few drops, but I fled to the loo with my jacket around my waist.' Emmie's rapid weight loss in the first four weeks meant a rapid loss of tone around her pelvic floor muscles. A study by revealed Ozempic or semaglutide can be linked to stress urinary incontinence. This means the pelvic floor muscles can't hold up under pressure when you cough, sneeze or laugh because the drug's rapid weight and muscle loss, especially in pelvic muscles, lowers pelvic support and increases leakage risk. Emmie says: 'The first time it happened, I convinced myself I had drunk too much. 'When it happened at work, I bought period panty liner pads to help control my pee problem. 'I even considered adult nappies for an extreme emergency. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. 'I had no idea that this was a possible side effect of the jab, it's definitely not one that people talk about.' In a bid to ease her embarrassing symptoms, Emmie immediately began doing her pelvic floor exercises three times a day. She says: 'I use Kegel balls, which come in different weights with strings attached. 'You pop inside your vagina and practice holding them for different periods of time. 'It took four weeks of training, but my symptoms have finally eased up.' While urinary incontinence might have been a negative side effect, Emmie has found an added bonus aside from her weight loss. 'The jab has increased by sex drive and my orgasms are stronger than ever,' she says. 'I consider that an added bonus.' According to research, the GLP-1 drugs can also alter autonomic nervous system responses and increase blood circulation, especially to your pubic area, which could explain Emmie's heightened sensitivity and increased sex drive. After six months of using Mounjarno, Emmie has now lost 3st 1lb and has no regrets. She says: 'I don't regret using the drug to fast-track my weight loss. 'It's not cheating, it's using what works for you. 'The oddball side effects created havoc in my life, but I got through it and I am back to feeling like my best self.' 6
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Seoul's Swarm of 'lovebugs'
People in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, are dealing with a big bug black insects nicknamed lovebugs have shown up all over the city - especially in parks and hiking areas. Some paths are completely covered in online show places like Gyeyangsan Mountain where areas have turned completely black because of how many bugs there are. The insect's official name is Plecia known as lovebugs because they fly around stuck together in pairs as if they're having a big lovebug hug. The male bugs only live for three to four days, and the females about a week, which they spend laying hundreds of eggs in damp soil. Although they might look a bit gross, lovebugs actually help nature. Seoul authorities said in public announcements: "They have a disgusting appearance but are actually beneficial insects."They pollinate flowers, and their young (known as larvae) help make soil healthier by breaking down old plants and leaves. City officials say they don't want to spray them with harsh chemicals, as it could also be harmful for other people are being asked to use water sprays to wash them away, put sticky pads near lights, and wear dark clothes outside. That's because lovebugs are attracted to bright lights and many people have had enough. A recent survey found that most Seoul residents think lovebugs are pests. In fact, in a survey they were voted the third most annoying insect in the city — after cockroaches and bedbugs. The lovebugs themselves are completely harmless to humans and do not bite, feasting on plants instead. Originally from subtropical regions (warm, hot areas with high humidity) of south-eastern China, Taiwan and Japan's Ryukyu Islands, the lovebugs were first identified in South Korea during a major outbreak in they never stick around for long, and their appearance will be short lived - literally. They usually disappear by the middle of July, because they only live for a short time.
Coin Geek
an hour ago
- Coin Geek
Hong Kong ups competitiveness with new stablecoin laws
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Hong Kong's stablecoin bill and its continued issuance of digital asset policies give it a competitive edge in the race to become the global digital assets hub, says the city-state's financial secretary, Paul Chan. In May, Hong Kong legislators passed the Stablecoin Ordinance, becoming the first major economy with an act fully dedicated to stablecoins. It takes effect in August, and according to Chan, it will make Hong Kong a haven for digital asset activity. 'We have also just completed the legislation of stablecoins, which will come into effect on August 1, making Hong Kong one of the first jurisdictions in the world to establish a statutory regulatory framework for stablecoins,' Chan stated in his speech at the Wealth Management Expo. Hong Kong's stablecoin pursuits come amid a change of tune from mainland China, which has been an anti-digital asset for years. Speaking at a forum in Shanghai, the Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBoC), Pan Gongsheng, acknowledged the increasing importance of stablecoins in global commerce and the need for China to keep up. Stablecoins and other blockchain innovations 'are enabling real-time settlement at the point of payment, fundamentally reshaping the traditional payment infrastructure and significantly shortening the cross-border payment chain,' he told the attendees. However, China has not announced any plans to let up on its digital asset restrictions, leaving Hong Kong as the testing ground for Chinese firms. Chinese firms are already exploring stablecoins in Hong Kong. E-commerce giant (NASDAQ: JD) has been testing a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin and wrapped up the second phase of its pilot in May. The company, through its Hong Kong subsidiary, expects to obtain a license in the fourth quarter and launch its stablecoin by year-end. Ant Group, an affiliate of China's second-largest company by market cap, Alibaba (NASDAQ: BABAF), is also pursuing a stablecoin license in Hong Kong. Hong Kong builds on regulatory clarity with new policy statement Meanwhile, the city-state has published yet another policy statement offering more clarity on digital asset regulation. Dubbed 'Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong,' it introduces the new 'LEAP' framework that doubles down on stablecoin and asset tokenization policies. The first policy statement was published in October 2022. Under LEAP, the city will unify its regulatory framework for all virtual asset service providers (VASPs), from exchanges and stablecoin issuers to custodians and brokerages. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will spearhead the licensing of these VASPs, with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) charged with the legal oversight over the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). The new policy also intends to push for tokenization, with the government pledging to regularly issue tokenized bonds. It will also incentivize market players to tokenize RWAs through clearer laws and expanded market opportunities, such as allowing secondary trading of tokenized exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Hong Kong will promote 'the tokenisation of a broader range of assets and financial instruments, demonstrating the versatility of this technology across sectors such as precious metals (e.g. gold) and non-ferrous metals, and renewable energy (e.g. solar panels),' the policy statement said. In one of the more impactful proposals for investors, the policy will allow private funds and family offices to claim tax breaks on profits generated from tokenized securities and digital asset holdings. The government also pledged to partner with academia to strengthen industry talent and welcomed proposals on how it can better support real-world usage of stablecoins. 'We strive to build a more flourishing digital asset ecosystem which will integrate the real economy with social life through a prudent regulatory regime and encouragement to market innovation, such that it will bring benefits to both the economy and society while consolidating Hong Kong's leading position as an international financial centre,' commented Chan. Industry experts noted that the new policy statement came barely a week after the United States Senate passed the GENIUS Act, which establishes a regulatory framework for stablecoins. According to Andrew Fei, a partner at King & Wood Mallesons law firm, accelerated regulatory efforts show that the 'global race for digital assets innovation is well underway.' Watch | Spotlight On: Centi Franc—the truly stable stablecoin title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
