Pfizer says Ecnluitide approved by China's NMPA

Pfizer says Ecnluitide approved by China's NMPA

Pfizer has secured exclusive commercialization rights to Sciwind Biosciences’ GLP-1 receptor agonist ecnoglutide in mainland China, following its approval by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for type 2 diabetes treatment in January 2026 according to Fierce Pharma. Under the agreement, Pfizer will pay up to $495 million in upfront and milestone payments, though specific terms such as the initial payment amount or launch timeline remain undisclosed as Reuters reported. Sciwind retains marketing authorization, R&D leadership, and manufacturing responsibilities for the drug according to Fierce Pharma.

Ecnoglutide, a next-generation cAMP-biased GLP-1 agonist, demonstrated 15.1% placebo-adjusted weight loss in Chinese clinical trials, with 92.8% of patients achieving clinically meaningful weight reduction and 80% reaching HbA1c levels below 7% according to Fierce Pharma. The drug is also under regulatory review for chronic weight management in China according to Fierce Pharma.

The deal aligns with Pfizer’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in metabolic therapies, following its $10 billion acquisition of obesity-focused biotech Metsera and a separate licensing agreement for Yao Pharma’s GLP-1 candidate according to Fierce Pharma. However, ecnoglutide will not be covered under China’s state-run health insurance scheme for diabetes treatment, unlike competing GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic or Lilly’s Mounjaro as Reuters reported.

Sciwind and Pfizer emphasized the collaboration’s potential to address growing demand for weight management solutions in China, where obesity prevalence among adults reached 14.1% in 2026 according to Fierce Pharma. The transaction reflects intensifying competition in the GLP-1 space, with multiple players pursuing market share in diabetes and obesity therapies according to Fierce Pharma.