NVO - Chinese Generic Ozempic Wegovy Versions Could Put Novo Nordisk At The Risk Of Stiff Competition In Key Market | Benzinga
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) is facing a significant challenge in China, where local pharmaceutical companies are developing generic versions of its key diabetes and obesity drugs.
What Happened: As reported by Reuters on Sunday, at least 15 Chinese drugmakers are working on generic versions of Novo Nordisk’s drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. The patent for the active ingredient in these drugs is set to expire in China in 2026.
Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the patent in China. An adverse court ruling could lead to an earlier loss of patent protection for the drugs in China, making it the first major market to strip Novo Nordisk of its patent protection.
Chinese drugmakers have been quick to seize this opportunity, with several companies already in the final stages of clinical trials for their generic versions of Ozempic and Wegovy. The patent expiry in China is significantly earlier than in other key markets, such as Japan, Europe, and the ...