Barron’s reports that Chinese biotech Hengrui Pharma’s GLP-1 candidate HRS9531 achieved up to 19% average weight loss over 48 weeks in a Phase 3 trial — nearly matching $LLY (+0.98%) Zepbound’s 21%, despite using lower doses and shorter duration. U.S. partner Kailera Therapeutics plans larger, global trials with higher dosing.
While U.S. approval remains years away, this signals rising competition from Chinese biotech in the obesity drug space, where $LLY and $NOVO B (-1.91%) currently lead. Major U.S. players like Merck and Regeneron are already licensing similar assets — a sign the race is intensifying.