-- Novo Nordisk (NVO) expects generic versions of its Ozempic medication to face approval delays in China until next year, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing the drugmaker.
The patent for semaglutide, the main ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, expired in China in March, but the company said it still has regulatory data protection until April 2027 due to a trade agreement between China and Switzerland, Bloomberg reported.
Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic Biopharmaceutical, the first Chinese firm to seek clearance for a generic, said in March its product review was suspended because of the international data protection stipulations, according to the report.
Novo Nordisk and Hangzhou Jiuyuan did not immediately respond to' requests for comment, while the Chinese regulatory authority could not be reached for comment.
Novo Nordisk shares were more than 3% higher in Wednesday trading.
(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
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