On November 12, 2026, Eli Lilly China announced that Chinese regulators had approved its once-daily orforglipron tablets, marketed as 穆优达, for adult weight management. According to the report, it is the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in China for that purpose, giving Lilly a head start over a rival oral treatment still under review.
The approval covers use alongside diet and exercise for adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of at least 30, or a BMI of at least 27 but below 30 with at least one weight-related condition. It does not cover every adult seeking to lose weight. Lilly’s application for a type 2 diabetes indication in China remained under review at the time of the report.
The launch adds an oral product to Lilly’s weight-management business, which includes injectable tirzepatide. Unlike peptide-based oral GLP-1 drugs, orforglipron is a small molecule. Lilly says it can be taken without restrictions on food or water. The company reported $184 million in third-quarter sales of orforglipron and $281 million in cumulative sales since its US launch in the second quarter of 2026.
Novo Nordisk’s oral weight-management version of semaglutide had not received the same Chinese approval: its application was accepted for review in August 2026. Novo reported third-quarter sales of 5.394 billion Danish kroner for the product across markets where it had launched. Its oral semaglutide must be taken on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute wait before eating or drinking.
Both treatments are prescription medicines with defined indications. The report also noted that, on November 9, the US Food and Drug Administration called for a warning about a potential increased risk of a rare eye condition associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists; its list included both oral semaglutide and orforglipron.
