China hits milestone in weight-loss drug

A China-led research team recently published results of a phase III clinical trial on a novel obesity treatment in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), marking a significant milestone in the country's growing global influence in endocrinology and metabolic innovation.

"The study validated the efficacy and safety of the world's first GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist submitted for regulatory approval for weight management in overweight or obese patients. It represents a leap forward for China-developed weight-loss drugs into the global forefront," said Xiao Ruiping, deputy editor of NEJM.

The drug, Mazdutide, is the world's first and currently only GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist targeting both weight loss and glucose control. Unlike conventional GLP-1 receptor agonists, it incorporates a glucagon (GCG) target, opening a new therapeutic avenue for obesity treatment.