The world’s first basic insulin glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist (glp-1ra) injection developed by insulin giant Novo Nordisk was officially listed in China on March 5, and was named “Novo Nordisk”. The drug made its debut in China during the Expo last year.
This new drug is composed of insulin degu and liraglutide. According to the clinical data released by Novo Nordisk, the standard rate of glycosylated hemoglobin is close to 90% (89.9%) when the drug is injected once a day. At the same time, the risk of hypoglycemia is low and the weight benefit is clear.
For the price of glp-1ra, Novo Nordisk responded to the first financial reporter that at present, “Novo Nordisk” has been linked to the provincial drug purchase platform in some provinces, and the hospital purchase and sales price of the provincial drug purchase platform is 499 yuan per piece (3ml). The price of simeglutide injection (1.5ml), a GLP-1 drug listed in China and included in medical insurance last year, was 478.8 yuan.
Zhang Kezhou, vice president of Novo Nordisk China Meheco Group Co.Ltd(600056) and quality department, told China Business News: “we will continue to promote local bidding and hospital drug intake, and hope glp-1ra can also enter the medical insurance catalogue as soon as possible to benefit more patients.” He did not give specific sales expectations for the drug in China.
In December last year, China’s National Medical Insurance Bureau included Novo Nordisk’s smeglutide injection into the medical insurance catalogue, less than seven months after the product was first approved in the Chinese market.
GLP-1 similar drugs are a kind of incretin secreting hormone, which can stimulate the natural secretion of insulin, reduce appetite and reduce food intake, so as to reduce the blood glucose level. Studies have shown that GLP-1 receptor agonists have other beneficial effects on organs such as heart and liver, and are mainly used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
According to the company’s recent 2021 earnings report, Novo Nordisk’s total GLP-1 revenue in 2021 contributed about $9 billion 500 million, accounting for more than 1/4 (26.5%) of the company’s diabetes related drugs, of which Liraglutide Injection and Sussex had contributed nearly 1 billion 300 million dollars last year to Novo Nordisk, an increase of 50% over the same period last year. In China, Novo Nordisk’s sales increased by 11% in 2021, and the sales of insulin and GLP-1 products increased rapidly. In the field of treatment of type 2 diabetes, sales of GLP-1 increased by 73%.
At present, GLP-1 receptor agonists still account for a low proportion of hypoglycemic drugs in China and are still in the market cultivation stage. Insulin, biguanides, sulfonylureas and α- Traditional oral drugs such as glycosidase inhibitors still account for a large proportion.
Professor Mu Yiming, director of Department of Endocrinology, first medical center of the PLA General Hospital, told the first financial reporter at the drug launch conference: “controlling blood sugar as soon as possible will help reduce or delay the occurrence of diabetic complications. GLP-1 receptor agonists are expected to become the development trend of hypoglycemic drugs in the future.” In some overseas markets, GLP-1 accounts for nearly 20% of the market share of hypoglycemic drugs. China still has great room for improvement and market potential.
China is a big country with diabetes, and the task of preventing and controlling diabetes is arduous. Last December, a surveillance data on chronic diseases and risk factors in China showed that China’s adults aged 18 and over had nearly 140 million diabetes. At present, there are still many non satisfied needs of diabetes patients, such as low blood sugar compliance rate, hypoglycemic risk and weight gain.
In order to achieve the goal of ideal blood glucose control in diabetic patients, we should pay attention to stable blood glucose, hypoglycemic safety and high quality compliance in addition to lowering blood sugar. Mother Yiming said.
