Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly Cut Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy and Mounjaro Prices in China

Key Highlights

• Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are cutting prices of Wegovy and Mounjaro in China to boost access and demand.
• Wegovy’s highest doses have reportedly seen price cuts of nearly 50% in some provinces.
• China is emerging as a major battleground for obesity drugs ahead of patent expiries and local competition.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are lowering prices of Wegovy and Mounjaro in China, a move aimed at widening access as demand for weight-loss treatments rises sharply.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Cut Obesity Drug Prices in China

Novo Nordisk confirmed it is adjusting Wegovy prices in China, though it did not disclose specific figures. According to Chinese business outlet Yicai, list prices for the two highest dosages of Wegovy have been cut by 48%, bringing monthly costs down to 987 yuan ($141) and 1,284 yuan in some provinces.

“We can confirm that we are adjusting our prices of Wegovy in China,” Novo Nordisk said in a statement to Reuters, adding that the move is aimed at reducing the treatment burden for patients and improving access.

Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, but price cuts for its obesity drug Mounjaro are also expected to take effect from January 1, according to a WeChat post by a hospital in the eastern city of Nanjing.

Sharp Discounts Signal Push for Market Share

Pricing data from Chinese platforms highlights the scale of the reductions. A Meituan-linked platform listed a 10mg Mounjaro injector pen at around 445 yuan, down from roughly 2,180 yuan, suggesting aggressive discounting as global drugmakers race to secure early dominance.

The price cuts come as Novo and Lilly increasingly target cash-paying consumers, a strategy they have also adopted in the United States and other emerging markets. Novo recently reduced Wegovy prices by up to 37% in India, another fast-growing obesity treatment market, as reported by Reuters.

China Emerges as a Key Obesity Drug Market

China is rapidly becoming one of the most important growth markets for global weight-loss drugmakers, driven by changing diets, urbanisation, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. More than 65% of China’s population of around 1.4 billion people could be overweight or obese by 2030, according to estimates cited by Reuters, creating a vast and largely untapped patient base for obesity treatments.

Until recently, high prices have limited access to new-generation weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, restricting demand largely to wealthier consumers and private clinics.

Pricing Seen as Key to Wider Adoption

Recent price cuts could significantly broaden uptake, particularly among middle-income patients who are increasingly seeking medical interventions for weight management rather than relying solely on lifestyle changes. Greater affordability may help move obesity treatments closer to mainstream use across major urban centres.

Lower prices could also influence future hospital procurement decisions and open the door to discussions around inclusion in local reimbursement or insurance frameworks, a critical step for scaling volumes in China’s state-dominated healthcare system. As domestic drugmakers advance competing products and key patents approach expiry, pricing and access are expected to play a decisive role in shaping long-term market leadership.

Rising Competition Ahead of Patent Expiry

Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly face increasing competition from Chinese drugmakers such as Innovent Biologics, while more domestic players are preparing to enter the market.

Novo’s patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is set to expire in China in 2026, opening the door to generic versions. Chinese pharmaceutical groups, including CSPC Pharmaceutical Group and Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic Biopharmaceutical, are already developing rival treatments, according to Reuters.

Yicai reported that Novo’s latest price cuts are being rolled out initially in Yunnan and Sichuan, signalling a regional strategy that could expand nationwide as competition intensifies.