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Eric Ng

Innovent Biologics, the first Chinese company to win regulatory approval to sell a GLP-1 drug for weight loss and diabetes, will leverage JD Health’s online distribution network as it seeks to grab a slice of a market that could be worth 40 billion yuan (US$5.6 billion) in a decade.
The companies will collaborate on supply chain and sales channel development ahead of Innovent’s launch of mazdutide, as well as engage in a consumer education campaign.
“Innovent and JD Health will join hands to popularise knowledge about weight loss and blood sugar control via on and offline channels,” Innovent said in a statement posted on its WeChat account on Tuesday.
Late last month, eastern Jiangsu province-based Innovent said it received Chinese regulatory approval for mazdutide, which it claimed was the world’s first to mimic the natural hormones of GLP-1 and glucagon, with the latter playing a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels.
GLP-1 drugs mimic the actions of the naturally produced hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which regulates blood sugar levels, suppresses appetite and slows digestion.

“Innovent will make its breakthrough dual-target, liver fat-reducing weight loss therapy available to obese patients as soon as possible, to contribute towards the weight management and healthy China initiatives,” said chairman Michael Yu Dechao, without giving a time frame.
Some 34.3 per cent of mainland Chinese adults were estimated to be overweight and 11.2 per cent were obese, according to a 2022 study involving nearly 63,000 participants in 10 provinces. The results were published in 2024 by Public Health, a peer-reviewed journal.
Over 70 per cent of the population would be overweight or obese by 2030, and if the problem was not addressed effectively, it would consume 22 per cent of the nation’s total healthcare budget, according to the National Health Commission.
Last April, Beijing launched a nationwide weight management campaign as part of its “healthy China” 2019-2030 action plan, saying obesity had become “a major public health threat”.
China’s weight loss drugs market could grow to 40 billion yuan in 2035, according to Chen Ziyi, Goldman Sachs’ head of Asia healthcare research.
Currently, sales are primarily driven by Denmark-based Novo Nordisk, which reported US$285 million in GLP-1 drug sales for diabetes in China in the first quarter, and US$11 million in sales for weight loss applications. Dozens of Chinese firms are conducting clinical trials on both generic and novel alternatives.
Globally, industry estimates for sales of anti-obesity drugs range from US$100 billion to US$150 billion by 2035.
JD Health’s cold storage facilities in some 300 cities across the mainland could meet Innovent’s requirement for GLP-1 drugs to be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius when in transit, Innovent said.
Innovent, among the first batch of biotech firms that went public in Hong Kong in 2018, has since launched 16 novel drugs for various types of cancer, as well as for autoimmune, metabolic and eye diseases.
Beijing-based JD Health operates one of China’s largest online healthcare platforms, with 183.6 million annual active users and an average daily online medical consultation volume of 490,000 last year. Its distribution network spans over 100,000 third-party merchants.
Last year, JD Health helped multiple global pharmaceutical firms distribute new drugs in China, including US-based Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 diabetes and weight loss drug tirzepatide, a rival to Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide.
Semaglutide is formulated and marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss.


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Eli Lilly’s biotechnology centre in San Diego, California. Photo: Reuters

Tirzepatide medication for type 2 diabetes and obesity, shown with injection devices. Photo: Shutterstock

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Mounjaro, a drug used for treating type 2 diabetes, is manufactured by Eli Lilly. Photo Reuters

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China’s weight loss drugs market could grow to US$5.6 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs


China’s weight loss drugs market could grow to US$5.6 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs.


‘China’s Ozempic’ pioneer inks deal with JD Health for online distribution

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China’s weight loss drugs market could grow to US$5.6 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs

China’s weight loss drugs market could grow to US$5.6 billion by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs