On July 9 the National Health Commission and two other agencies published the
2026 National Essential Medicines List, effective Sept. 1. Semaglutide is
included but restricted to diabetes treatment and does not cover weight‑loss
indications. Novo Nordisk is currently the sole supplier in China; more than 10
domestic firms have filed marketing authorization applications for generic
versions. Novo says the compound patent expired in China earlier this year but
regulatory data exclusivity runs until Q2 next year, after which generics could
legally enter the market.
