China adds semaglutide to essential drug list, expanding diabetes care

China announced that the injectable GLP‑1 drug semaglutide will be added to the National Essential Drug List, effective 1 September. The move requires all public hospitals to stock the medication, improving availability even in remote rural areas. Semaglutide becomes the second GLP‑1 agent on the list after liraglutide and is expected to pave the way for generic versions once approved.

The inclusion follows a government statement and follows the expiry of semaglutide’s active‑ingredient patent in March, with regulatory data protection lasting until early next year. Sales of the branded Ozempic injector pens in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong fell 7% to about 5.4 billion Danish crowns in 2025. Novo Nordisk has not commented on the potential revenue impact of the new listing.