The Supreme People’s Court of China has delivered a favourable ruling on the intellectual property rights related to the semaglutide compound patent, upholding an earlier decision by the Beijing Intellectual Property Court that confirmed the patent’s validity. The verdict represents a significant win for Novo Nordisk and reinforces legal protection for pharmaceutical innovation in China.

Commenting on the decision, Mike Doustdar, president and chief executive officer of Novo Nordisk, said the ruling sends a strong signal of government support for safeguarding medical innovation. He added that it strengthens confidence among foreign pharmaceutical companies operating in China and encourages continued investment in the development and introduction of innovative medicines to benefit patients.

Semaglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue invented and developed by Novo Nordisk. It is the active ingredient in Wegovy, used for the treatment of overweight and obesity, and in Ozempic and Rybelsus for adults with type 2 diabetes. Since its launch, semaglutide has achieved broad clinical acceptance, with approximately 38 million patient-years of use globally.

Novo Nordisk has previously stated that the expiry of the semaglutide compound patent in certain international markets is expected to have a low single-digit negative impact on global sales growth in 2026. The company clarified that the latest ruling in China does not change its earlier guidance.

Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company focused on addressing serious chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity. The company employs around 78,500 people across 80 countries and markets its products in nearly 170 countries worldwide.