What GLP-1 Drugs Are Available in China?

This guide explains what GLP-1 drugs are available in China, including approved GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual-target therapies, oral medications, and combination products.

GLP-1 medications have become one of the hottest topics in the global pharmaceutical industry due to their outstanding performance in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management.

For healthcare providers, pharmaceutical buyers, and patients, understanding the GLP-1 drugs and related therapies currently approved in China provides a more comprehensive view of the product landscape and evolving market trends.

So, what GLP-1 drugs are available in China today? DengYueMed provides a detailed overview below.

What Are GLP-1 Drugs?

GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) is a naturally occurring incretin hormone secreted by intestinal L cells. It stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion and offers multiple metabolic benefits, including: 🔽

• Increasing satiety
• Suppressing appetite
• Delaying gastric emptying
• Improving blood glucose control
• Reducing energy intake
• Supporting weight management

In recent years, GLP-1 therapies have evolved from traditional GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to dual- and triple-receptor agonists, expanding treatment options for obesity and metabolic diseases.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Approved in China

If you’re wondering what GLP-1 drugs are available in China, the currently approved products can be divided into daily injections, weekly injections, oral formulations, dual-target therapies, and fixed-dose combination products.

1. Daily Injectable GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

1. Exenatide Injection

Features

• One of the earliest approved GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Injected twice daily
• Used for blood glucose management in type 2 diabetes

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ❌ Weight management

2. Lixisenatide Injection

Features

• Once-daily injection
• Short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ❌ Weight management

3. Liraglutide Injection

Features

• Once-daily injection
• Widely used worldwide

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ✅ Adult weight management (approved indication)

Liraglutide was among the earliest GLP-1 receptor agonists approved globally for long-term weight management.

4. Benaglutide Injection

Features

• Developed in China
• Short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ✅ Adult weight management

Benaglutide is one of China’s domestically developed GLP-1 drugs and among the earlier locally developed products approved for weight management.

2. Weekly Injectable GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

1. Exenatide Microspheres

Features

• Once-weekly injection

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ❌ Weight management

2. Dulaglutide Injection

Features

• Once-weekly injection
• Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ❌ Weight management (not currently approved in China)

3. Semaglutide Injection

Features

• Once-weekly injection
• Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ✅ Long-term adult weight management (approved under different brand names for different indications)

Semaglutide has become one of the most widely used GLP-1 medications worldwide.

4. Polyethylene Glycol Loxenatide Injection

Features

• Developed in China
• Once-weekly injection

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ❌ Weight management

5. Efsubaglutide Alfa Injection

Features

• Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist
• Once-weekly injection

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes

6. Ecnoglutide Injection

Features

• Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist
• Once-weekly injection

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ✅ Adult weight management (subject to the latest NMPA-approved prescribing information)

3. Oral GLP-1 Medications

Oral Semaglutide

Features

• Currently the only approved oral GLP-1 receptor agonist in China
• Once-daily oral administration

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes

Dual-Target GLP-1 Drugs Approved in China

When discussing what GLP-1 drugs are available in China, dual-target therapies have become an important category due to their potential to deliver greater benefits in blood glucose control and weight management.

🎯 As research advances, activating multiple metabolic pathways simultaneously has become a major direction in obesity treatment.

1. Tirzepatide Injection

Drug Class

GIP/GLP-1 Dual Receptor Agonist

Features

• Once-weekly injection
• Activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors

Indications

• ✅ Type 2 diabetes
• ✅ Adult weight management

Tirzepatide is the world’s first approved GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist.

2. Mazdutide Injection

Drug Class

GLP-1/Glucagon (GCG) Dual Receptor Agonist

Features

• Innovative drug developed in China
• Once-weekly injection

Mechanism

• Suppresses appetite
• Increases energy expenditure

Indications

• ✅ Adult weight management
• ✅ Type 2 diabetes (subject to the approved prescribing information)

Mazdutide represents a significant milestone in China’s development of dual-target weight-loss therapies.

GLP-1 Combination Products

If you’re exploring what GLP-1 drugs are available in China, it is also important to consider fixed-dose combination therapies.

In addition to monotherapy, China has also approved several fixed-dose combinations of GLP-1 receptor agonists with basal insulin, primarily for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

These include:

• Insulin Degludec/Liraglutide Injection
• Icodec Insulin/Semaglutide Injection (IcoSema)

👨‍🔬 These products are intended for blood glucose management and are currently not approved for weight management.

Which Triple-Target GLP-1 Drugs Are Under Development?

Several triple-receptor agonists are currently under clinical development worldwide.

In theory, it can simultaneously regulate appetite, improve energy metabolism, and enhance weight management.

At present, Retatrutide remains in clinical development and has not yet been approved in China.

Summary: What GLP-1 Drugs Are Available in China

Before choosing or sourcing a product, it is helpful to understand what GLP-1 drugs are available in China, including their approved indications, dosing schedules, and therapeutic classifications.

Drug	Drug Class	Administration	Type 2 Diabetes	Weight Management
Exenatide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	❌
Lixisenatide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	❌
Liraglutide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	✅
Benaglutide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	✅
Exenatide Microspheres	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	❌
Dulaglutide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	❌
Semaglutide Injection	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	✅
Polyethylene Glycol Loxenatide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	❌
Efsubaglutide Alfa	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	❌
Ecnoglutide	GLP-1 RA	Injection	✅	✅
Oral Semaglutide	GLP-1 RA	Oral	✅	❌
Tirzepatide	GIP/GLP-1 Dual Agonist	Injection	✅	✅
Mazdutide	GLP-1/GCG Dual Agonist	Injection	✅	✅
Insulin Degludec/Liraglutide	GLP-1 + Basal Insulin	Injection	✅	❌
Icodec Insulin/Semaglutide (IcoSema)	GLP-1 + Basal Insulin	Injection	✅	❌

Note: Approved indications may change as the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) updates product approvals. Please refer to the latest prescribing information and official regulatory announcements.

Conclusion

For anyone asking what GLP-1 drugs are available in China, the answer now includes a comprehensive portfolio of single-target GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual-target innovative therapies, oral formulations, and combination products.

✨ These medications are widely used for type 2 diabetes treatment and, in selected cases, chronic weight management.

Whether you are researching GLP-1 drugs approved in China, looking for GLP-1 medications in China, or seeking information about China GLP-1 drugs for pharmaceutical sourcing, staying informed about regulatory developments is increasingly important.

China pharmaceutical wholesaler DengYueMed closely follows Chinese innovative medicines and GLP-1 therapies. We provide international customers with pharmaceutical sourcing, product consultation, and medicine export services.

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