Pfizer Wins China Approval for Ecnoglutide After 15.4% Phase 3 Weight Loss
China’s National Medical Products Administration approved Pfizer’s ecnoglutide injection for chronic weight management, granting first clearance of a cAMP-biased GLP-1 agonist with sustained metabolic benefits. Phase 3 SLIMMER data showed up to 15.4% average weight loss at a 2.4 mg dose and over 92% of patients achieved ≥5% reduction.
1. China Approval of Ecnoglutide
China’s National Medical Products Administration granted clearance for Pfizer’s ecnoglutide injection, marking the first approval of a cAMP-biased GLP-1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management in adults with overweight or obesity. Commercial launch details, including pricing and timing, remain to be announced.
2. Phase 3 SLIMMER Trial Outcomes
The Phase 3 SLIMMER study showed that at a 2.4 mg dose patients achieved an average 15.4% weight loss, with 92.8% reaching at least a 5% reduction, 79.6% achieving 10% loss and 63.5% attaining 15% loss over 48 weeks, with continued weight decline over the trial period.
3. Collaboration and Milestone Payments
Pfizer granted Hangzhou Sciwind Biosciences exclusive commercialization rights in Mainland China under a collaboration agreement that could deliver up to $495 million in upfront, regulatory and sales milestone payments, reflecting the strategic partnership for local market access and commercialization efforts.
4. Competitive Landscape in Weight Management
The approval positions Pfizer against market leaders including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, with Novo’s Wegovy patent expiring soon and potential for copycat products, intensifying competition in China’s expanding obesity drug segment.