The GLP-1 therapy drug efinogratide injection (brand name: Xian Wei Ying) from US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has been officially approved in China for the long-term weight management of overweight or obese adults. The drug was originally developed by the domestic biopharmaceutical company Sciwind Biosciences. In February 2026, Pfizer secured exclusive commercialization rights for the product in mainland China through a collaboration agreement involving payments of up to $495 million. This approval marks a strategic step for Pfizer in the metabolic disease field within China.
Efinogratide, a novel cAMP-biased GLP-1 receptor agonist, demonstrated excellent results in prior Chinese clinical studies. According to data disclosed on Sciwind Biosciences' official website, in a trial involving Chinese subjects with obesity or overweight, the drug achieved a 15.1% reduction in body weight compared to a placebo. Furthermore, over 92% of patients achieved a clinically meaningful weight loss. Beyond effective weight control, the product's indication for treating type 2 diabetes was also approved for marketing by China's National Medical Products Administration in January 2026.
Sciwind Biosciences described this as "a significant breakthrough in the field of weight management" on its official website. Pfizer announced via its WeChat platform on Friday that this decision is expected to intensify the competitive landscape in a market analysts project could be worth tens of billions of dollars in the coming years.
Xian Wei Ying is an injectable drug belonging to the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists. This category also includes drugs marketed in the local market by companies such as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Innovent Biologics. Jean-Christophe Pointeau, President of Pfizer China, stated previously that through the collaboration with Sciwind, Pfizer aims to leverage its strong commercial network to accelerate the delivery of innovative weight loss solutions to patients in China.
For Sciwind Biosciences, the nearly $500 million deal structure, which includes an upfront payment and milestone payments for registration and sales, provided crucial cash flow support during its key IPO冲刺 period. However, a Pfizer spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding pricing and the specific launch date for the product in China.