Key highlights
- China's Supreme People's Court upheld the semaglutide compound patent.
- Semaglutide is used in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus.
- Semaglutide has 38 million patient-years of use since launch.
- Patent expiry may impact global sales growth in 2026.
Patent Ruling
The Supreme People’s Court in China has upheld the semaglutide compound patent, affirming the decision of the Beijing IP Court. This ruling supports the protection of intellectual property rights for medical innovations.
Semaglutide Applications
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue developed by Novo Nordisk, is the active ingredient in Wegovy for overweight and obesity, and in Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Usage and Impact
Since its launch, semaglutide has achieved approximately 38 million patient-years of use, indicating its broad clinical acceptance and application.
Future Sales Outlook
Despite the positive ruling, Novo Nordisk anticipates a low-single-digit negative impact on global sales growth in 2026 due to the compound patent expiry in certain countries.
