Chinese regulators have given the green light to Pfizer's weight management injection Xianweiying for treating overweight and obese adults. The approval intensifies competition in China's weight loss drug market, which analysts predict will be worth billions of dollars in the coming years.
Chinese health authorities have granted approval for Pfizer’s weight loss injection Xianweiying, allowing the pharmaceutical giant to market the drug for long-term obesity treatment in adults across the country. The U.S. company announced the regulatory clearance through its WeChat social media account on Friday.
The newly approved medication joins a growing roster of GLP-1 receptor agonist treatments available in China’s expanding weight management sector. Competing products from companies including Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Innovent Biologics are already being sold in the Chinese market.
Sciwind Biosciences, the Hangzhou-based company that granted Pfizer licensing rights for mainland China in February, celebrated the development on their corporate website, stating: “This marks a breakthrough in field of weight management.”
Market data from investment firm Jefferies reveals strong sales performance for existing weight loss drugs on major Chinese e-commerce platforms. Novo’s Wegovy generated 260 million yuan ($38 million) in sales through Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace and JD.com during 2025, while Innovent’s competing product Xinermei achieved even higher revenue of 416 million yuan ($61 million).
Pfizer secured commercialization rights for Xianweiying, scientifically known as ecnoglutide, through its February licensing agreement with Sciwind. The partnership represents what Sciwind previously described as “an important first step to advance Pfizer’s global strategy in the metabolic field in China.”
Beyond weight management, Chinese regulators have also authorized ecnoglutide as a treatment option for patients with Type II diabetes.
Pfizer representatives have not yet provided details regarding pricing strategies or specific launch timing for the Chinese market.
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