Core Insights - The obesity treatment drug Ecnoglutide developed by Hangzhou Xianweida Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has shown strong performance in Phase III clinical trials, with patients losing an average of over 15% of their weight after 48 weeks of treatment, marking a significant step for China in the global weight loss drug market [1][3]. Group 1: Clinical Trial Results - The SLIMMER study, the largest Phase III clinical trial for weight loss drugs in China, involved 664 patients with obesity or overweight conditions, demonstrating a weight reduction of 15.4% in the 2.4mg dosage group after 48 weeks [3]. - 93% of patients receiving the highest dose of Ecnoglutide experienced at least a 5% weight loss, outperforming similar drugs in China [1][3]. Group 2: Drug Mechanism and Advantages - Ecnoglutide is the first biased GLP-1 receptor agonist to complete Phase III clinical trials globally, working similarly to Novo Nordisk's Semaglutide by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and appetite [4]. - The structural differences of Ecnoglutide may provide it with greater efficacy and safety compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists [4]. Group 3: Market Competition and Outlook - Upon approval, Ecnoglutide will compete with Novo Nordisk's Semaglutide, Eli Lilly's Tirzepatide, and other weight loss drugs in the Chinese market, which is projected to exceed 100 billion RMB [5]. - There are over 30 experimental weight loss drugs in the late-stage pipeline in China, indicating increasing competition in the market [5].

Core Viewpoint - GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar and controlling weight, with significant advancements in the development of GLP-1 drugs globally, particularly focusing on oral formulations like Rybelsus [2][4][6] Group 1: GLP-1 Overview - GLP-1 is secreted by intestinal L cells and helps in slowing gastric motility, prolonging gastric emptying time, and effectively suppressing appetite [2] - Notable GLP-1 drugs include Semaglutide (Ozempic for diabetes, Wegovy for weight loss, and Rybelsus as the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) [2][4] Group 2: Rybelsus Advantages - Rybelsus offers convenience as an oral medication, eliminating the need for refrigeration and improving patient adherence due to accurate dosing [4] - The formulation includes Semaglutide and an absorption enhancer (SNAC), which increases the bioavailability of the drug by approximately 100 times [4] Group 3: Clinical Research and Efficacy - The global Phase III clinical trial PIONEER involved 11,505 patients and confirmed the efficacy and safety of oral Semaglutide, showing significant reductions in blood sugar and weight [6] - In China, the HbA1c target achievement rate for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients using Rybelsus monotherapy reached 92.3% [6] Group 4: Comparison of Formulations - Ozempic (injection for diabetes) and Wegovy (injection for weight loss) have similar efficacy profiles to Rybelsus, which is an oral formulation [7][8][9] - Clinical trials indicate that Rybelsus can potentially replace injection forms without dosage adjustments, providing a "pain-free" weight loss option [12] Group 5: Weight Loss Outcomes - In clinical trials, Rybelsus demonstrated significant weight loss, with a 68-week study showing an average weight reduction of 17.4% (18.34 kg) in obese patients [10] - The OASIS 4 study indicated that patients on 25 mg oral Semaglutide lost an average of 13.6% (14.4 kg) of their body weight over 64 weeks [16] Group 6: Safety and Tolerability - While oral Semaglutide shows similar efficacy to injection forms, higher doses (25 mg and 50 mg) may be required to achieve comparable weight loss results [14][15] - Safety concerns include a 14% incidence of "skin sensation abnormalities" at the 50 mg dose, which were not reported in injection forms [15]