Novo Nordisk China Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.

A late-stage Chinese biotech in one of the hottest areas of drug development has corralled 500 million Chinese yuan (about $72 million) in a Series C from OrbiMed, Qiming Venture Partners and other investors, according to an announcement on WeChat. The Beijing-based startup, called QL Biopharm, collected the Series C as its Phase 3 obesity trial kicks into gear. In January, QL dosed the first patient in a China-based study of zovaglutide, or ZT002, its once-monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist injectable. QL is creating a long-acting weight-loss drug, a category that has attracted billions of dollars in investment as pharma companies try to compete with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The biotech also operates in one of the hottest markets for obesity drug deals, with China becoming a go-to place for dealmakers like AstraZeneca and Pfizer who are looking to catch up to the market frontrunners. And the race continues to heat up as metabolic drugs dominated the industry news cycle last week. Xujia Zhang Beyond zovaglutide, QL also has an oral GLP-1 for obesity and diabetes and a GLP-1/FGF21 injectable for MASH. The biotech has more shots and tablets in preclinical development for metabolic diseases. The nearly eight-year-old company is led by CEO and chair Xujia Zhang, a former vice president at Novo Nordisk China. He led E. coli research and diabetes research at the Danish giant’s China unit, according to his LinkedIn profile. QL’s key Western investor, OrbiMed, was also in the headlines last week for being the most active biopharma investor in 2025, according to an Endpoints News annual analysis of DealForma data. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.

Fangzhou and Novo Nordisk have signed a collaboration memorandum. Credit: Fangzhou Inc./GlobeNewswire. Fangzhou has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Novo Nordisk to collaborate on the management of serious chronic diseases including obesity and diabetes. Fangzhou will harness its AI application services, treatment solutions and accessible pharmaceutical offerings, and aims to enhance health management in partnership with Novo Nordisk. The signing ceremony was held during the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing between Fangzhou founder, chairman and CEO Dr Xie Fangmin and Novo Nordisk China senior vice-president and president Christine Zhou. Utilising Novo Nordisk’s expertise and products in diabetes and obesity care, Fangzhou intends to integrate its smart healthcare ecosystem and strong technological framework to develop a health management service. The joint effort will focus on providing patients with medication guidance, reminders, tracking of efficacy and health education, all aimed at improving quality of life in the glucose control and weight loss sector. The goal is to transition from a disease-centred to a health-centred model, providing patients with quality and convenient one-stop services. GlobalData Strategic Intelligence US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis. By GlobalData Learn more about Strategic Intelligence Dr Xie Fangmin stated: “We are partnering with Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company, to explore AI technology and address the pain points of traditional health management. Together, we aim to deliver innovative digital solutions for managing blood sugar and weight on a global scale.” Both companies plan to further innovate partnerships within the medical industry’s digital landscape, aiming to improve patient outcomes and also contribute towards achieving national Healthy China 2030 objectives. Christine Zhou stated: “With the combined strengths of both companies, this collaboration will closely integrate chronic disease prevention and digital innovation technology, jointly enhancing public awareness of diabetes and obesity. It will also support the aim that the concepts of early screening, early diagnosis and early treatment are effectively implemented within smart healthcare environments.” In June 2025, Novo Nordisk rebounded from a disappointing conclusion to its partnership with Hims & Hers by announcing a new agreement with WeightWatchers to enhance access to its weight loss medication, Wegovy (semaglutide). Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering Gain the recognition you deserve! The Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving pharmaceutical advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today! Nominate Now

In the fierce competition of the global weight loss market, semaglutide has stood out for its impressive weight loss effects, attracting the attention of many obese patients and those seeking to improve their physique. Notably, the drug has rapidly become a star product in the weight loss field, hailed as the "champion" of weight loss, thanks to the positive endorsement of prominent figures like Elon Musk. However, a recent study published in the "International Journal of Impotence Research," a sub-journal of "Nature," has raised questions about this much-touted drug. The study found that non-diabetic men taking semaglutide had a 4.5-fold increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED), a finding that has undoubtedly cast a shadow over this "champion" drug. In response to these research findings, Novo Nordisk China stated that the association between semaglutide and male erectile dysfunction is not mentioned in the Wegovy prescribing information. Novo Nordisk also emphasized that it did not participate in this study and believes that the study lacks sufficient information on drug dosage and treatment duration, making it difficult to confirm whether the conclusions apply to long-term weight management. Furthermore, Novo Nordisk stated that its drug has been extensively validated, with over 11 million patients' worth of usage experience, and the company is always committed to ensuring patient safety. The company will continue to closely monitor adverse reaction reports to ensure the safety of patients' medication use. Concurrently, the R&D competition in the domestic GLP-1 field is also heating up. Whether it's single-target, dual-target, or triple-target drugs, or oral small molecules and biosimilars, various pharmaceutical companies are actively investing in the development of new GLP-1 drugs. Statistics show that more than 100 new GLP-1 drugs have entered the clinical stage, fully demonstrating the domestic research and development capabilities and innovative vitality in this field. It is worth mentioning that Ozempic (semaglutide), Novo Nordisk's flagship therapy, presented the latest results of its FLOW clinical phase 3 trial at the European Renal Association (ERA) conference. The trial results showed that Ozempic performed excellently on the primary and all secondary endpoints, reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events by 18% and the risk of death from any cause by 20% in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes. This important achievement provides strong support for the broader application of Ozempic in a wider patient population. Novo Nordisk plans to submit regulatory applications for Ozempic label expansion to the US and EU in 2024, further expanding its market reach. In summary, while semaglutide has demonstrated outstanding weight loss effects as a highly anticipated weight loss drug, whether it has side effects such as ED requires further research and verification. At the same time, the R&D enthusiasm in the domestic GLP-1 field is high, and more new treatment options are expected to emerge in the future, providing patients with more diverse and personalized treatment options.