China approves Lilly weight-loss pill, ahead of Novo

China approved Eli Lilly’s once-daily oral GLP-1 weight-loss drug orforglipron, making it the first weight-loss pill of its kind cleared in the country and giving Lilly an early advantage over Novo Nordisk, whose oral Wegovy is still awaiting approval. The pill offers an alternative to injections and will compete with treatments from Lilly, Novo, Pfizer and China’s Innovent as demand for weight-management drugs grows. Analysts estimate China’s annual GLP-1 weight-loss market could expand to 30 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) within five to seven years, from 3 billion to 4 billion yuan today. Pricing and launch timing in China have not been announced, and Lilly shares rose in premarket trading following the approval.