Healthy Returns: Chinese obesity drug emerges as a potential rival to Eli Lilly's Zepbound

Core Insights - A new obesity treatment, HRS9531, developed by Chinese drugmaker Hengrui Pharma and Kailera Therapeutics, has shown positive results in late-stage trials, positioning it as a potential competitor to existing treatments from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [2][6]. Group 1: Drug Performance - HRS9531 helped patients lose nearly 18% of their body weight on average after 48 weeks, which is over 16% greater weight loss compared to placebo [4]. - Approximately 90% of patients receiving HRS9531 lost at least 5% of their body weight, and 44.4% achieved at least 20% weight loss [4]. - There was no plateau in weight loss observed at the 48-week mark [4]. Group 2: Market Context - Kailera and Hengrui are among several companies, including Merck and Regeneron, exploring the Chinese market for weight loss drugs [3]. - In May 2024, Kailera licensed rights to multiple experimental drugs from Hengrui for over $100 million in upfront payments, a 20% equity stake, and nearly $6 billion in future milestones [3]. Group 3: Future Developments - Hengrui plans to file for approval of HRS9531 in China, while Kailera will initiate global studies with higher doses and longer treatment durations [6]. - It may take several years for HRS9531 to enter markets outside of China, particularly the U.S. [6]. Group 4: Comparison with Competitors - HRS9531 works by activating GLP-1 and GIP hormones, similar to Eli Lilly's Zepbound, which helped patients lose up to 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks in trials [7][8]. - Novo Nordisk's Wegovy targets only GLP-1, differentiating it from HRS9531 and Zepbound [9].