China approves Sciwind's ecnoglutide for type 2 diabetes

China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved Sciwind Biosciences' ecnoglutide injection for type 2 diabetes in adults, then followed with a second approval in March 2026 for chronic weight management in adults with overweight or obesity ^[2][3]. The drug is described as the world's first approved "cAMP-biased" GLP-1 receptor agonist, a weekly injection that its maker says activates a different signaling pathway than existing GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide or tirzepatide ^[2][3].

In Sciwind's Phase 3 trial in China, called SLIMMER, the highest dose of ecnoglutide (2.4 mg) produced average weight loss of 15.4% of body weight at 48 weeks, or 15.1% after subtracting the placebo response ^[3]. Nearly 93% of patients lost at least 5% of their body weight, and more than 63% lost at least 15% ^[3]. The company also reported drops in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar measures, uric acid (down 54.3 µmol/L), and liver fat, which fell by more than half among patients who started with high liver fat ^[3].

The approvals followed a commercial deal announced in February 2026, in which Pfizer's China division agreed to pay Sciwind up to $495 million in upfront and milestone payments for exclusive rights to sell ecnoglutide in mainland China, while Sciwind keeps responsibility for research, manufacturing, and regulatory filings as the drug's official license holder ^[2]. Pfizer's Alexandre de Germay called the deal a step toward the company's ambition to lead "the next generation of chronic weight management therapies" ^[2]. Sciwind CEO Hai Pan said the approvals mark "an important milestone" and "a breakthrough for China-innovated drugs in the global GLP-1 field" ^[2][3].

The sources reviewed for this story describe the China approvals and the Pfizer commercialization deal in detail, but they do not address Verdiva Bio's reported rights to ecnoglutide outside China or a weekly oral version reportedly in development. Those details are not yet confirmed by the sources available here.

Why it matters for patients

Ecnoglutide is not approved in the United States, and none of the sources reviewed describe any FDA application or US timeline. For now, its approvals apply only inside China, where it competes directly with GLP-1 drugs already sold there ^[2]. Still, the arrival of another biased GLP-1 agonist adds to a fast-growing global market that already includes Novo Nordisk's semaglutide products and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide products ^[2].

The reported trial results are specific to a Chinese patient population studied for 48 weeks, so how the drug might perform in other populations, over longer periods, or against US-approved drugs head-to-head is not established in these sources. Sciwind's own materials note that weight loss had not leveled off by week 48, meaning longer studies could show different results ^[3]. Patients following news about competition among GLP-1 drugs should note that regulatory approval in China does not mean a drug is available, tested, or approved in the US.

What happens next

Sciwind received NMPA approval for type 2 diabetes around January 30, 2026, then added the weight management approval on March 6, 2026 ^[2][3]. Pfizer's exclusive China commercialization deal was announced February 24, 2026 ^[2]. The sources do not specify a US regulatory timeline, and whether or when ecnoglutide might be studied or filed for approval outside China is not yet known based on the material reviewed.