China’s top court has delivered a major win for Novo Nordisk, upholding the validity of the global healthcare company’s semaglutide compound patent and reinforcing intellectual property protections for innovative medicines.

 

The Supreme People’s Court ruled in favour of Novo Nordisk, affirming an earlier decision by the Beijing Intellectual Property Court that recognised the patent’s validity. The decision secures legal protection in China for semaglutide, the blockbuster drug underpinning Novo Nordisk’s diabetes and obesity treatments.

 

“This outcome is very positive for semaglutide and demonstrates firm government support for protecting medical innovation,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk. “This decision also strengthens confidence for foreign companies’ sustainable development in China and will motivate further development and introduction of innovative medicines for the benefit of patients.”

 

Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 analogue invented and developed by Novo Nordisk and is the active ingredient in Wegovy, used to treat overweight and obesity, as well as Ozempic and Rybelsus for adults with type 2 diabetes. Since its launch, the drug has gained broad clinical recognition and has been used for approximately 38 million patient-years worldwide.

 

The company noted that the ruling does not change its previous financial guidance. Novo Nordisk has already disclosed 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.