China approves first oral GLP-1 weight-loss pill

China has approved its first orally administered GLP-1 weight-loss drug, allowing Eli Lilly to sell its orforglipron pill for obese or overweight adults with at least one weight-related condition.

China's National Medical Products Administration said Thursday it had approved the once-daily pill, marketed as Muyouda. GLP-1 drugs aid weight loss by mimicking a natural gut hormone that suppresses appetite and helps regulate blood sugar.

Eli Lilly's pill was approved in the United States in April. It is the first oral version of the medicine approved in China, ahead of competitors including Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy.

GLP-1 injections from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and China's Innovent are already widely available in China. A 2025 study in The Lancet said the number of obese or overweight adults in China could reach 630 million by 2050, while China's National Health Commission has warned that 65% of the population will be obese or overweight by 2030.