Pfizer has entered a licensing agreement with China’s Sciwind Biosciences to commercialize ecnoglutide, a treatment for type 2 diabetes, in mainland China. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will pay up to $495 million in total, contingent on achieving specific regulatory and sales-related milestones.
Ecnoglutide belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of medications, which help regulate blood sugar levels and promote a sense of fullness. This class is widely used in diabetes care and includes products from companies such as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Innovent Biologics and Guangzhou Innogen.
The injectable therapy received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in January 2026 for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Sciwind has also submitted an application to have the medicine approved for chronic weight management in adults, and that submission is currently under regulatory review.
Under the licensing deal, Sciwind will remain the marketing authorisation holder and continue to oversee the drug’s research and development, registration, manufacturing and supply. The company is eligible to receive an undisclosed upfront payment, with additional payments tied to regulatory achievements and sales performance as milestones are met.
Clinical data from trials in Chinese patients showed that ecnoglutide produced meaningful results in weight reduction and blood glucose control, with a substantial share of participants achieving clinically relevant outcomes and target glycaemic levels.
Unlike some competing GLP-1 medicines currently available in China, ecnoglutide is not included in the nation’s public health insurance programme for type 2 diabetes treatment, which could affect out-of-pocket costs for patients.
The agreement marks a significant step in Pfizer’s strategy to expand its presence in the metabolic disease market in China, a rapidly growing sector driven by rising rates of diabetes and related conditions in the country.
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