China hits milestone in weight-loss drug

A China-led research team recently published results of a phase III clinical trial on a novel obesity treatment in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), marking a significant milestone in the country's growing global influence in endocrinology and metabolic innovation.

"The study validated the efficacy and safety of the world's first GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist submitted for regulatory approval for weight management in overweight or obese patients. It represents a leap forward for China-developed weight-loss drugs into the global forefront," said Xiao Ruiping, deputy editor of NEJM.

The drug, Mazdutide, is the world's first and currently only GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist targeting both weight loss and glucose control. Unlike conventional GLP-1 receptor agonists, it incorporates a glucagon (GCG) target, opening a new therapeutic avenue for obesity treatment.

GCG is secreted by pancreatic alpha cells, and its receptor activation enhances fat oxidation and energy expenditure, with particular potential in improving liver fat metabolism, said Ji Linong, lead researcher of the study and head of the endocrinology department at Peking University People's Hospital.

By combining both GCG and GLP-1 targets, the drug addresses obesity through a dual mechanism of appetite suppression and metabolic acceleration, offering a more comprehensive solution to complex conditions such as visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance — areas where single-target therapies fall short, Ji said.

"The publication of Mazdutide's clinical findings also signals that China's capabilities in innovative drug development for metabolic diseases have reached world-class standards, injecting momentum into the national Healthy China 2030 initiative," Ji added.

According to Qian Lei, a senior executive at Chinese innovative drug company Innovent Bio, the drug's co-developer, Mazdutide has now completed several key phase III clinical trials and is expected to launch in China this year for both weight-loss and glucose-lowering indications.

The country is seeing a rising prevalence of obesity. The adult obesity nutrition guidelines (2024 edition) issued by the National Health Commission reported that 34.3 percent of Chinese adults are overweight and 16.4 percent are obese.

In response, authorities have intensified efforts to combat the trend. Last year, the "Healthy Weight Management Action" was added as a key national initiative under the Healthy China 2030 initiative, with a goal to curb rising obesity rates by 2030.

In April, the national patriotic health campaign committee office under the State Council also rolled out eight key measures to promote supportive environments for weight control and foster broad public participation, aiming to curb the nationwide rise in overweight rates and obesity, as well as improve weight-related health outcomes for certain populations.

"Incorporating weight management into the national health governance system is not only vital to individuals' quality of life, but also to overall social productivity and sustainable development," said Zheng Hong, president of the China Health Culture Association. "We look forward to deeper participation from various technological sectors, so that high-quality weight management resources can benefit a broader population."