Semaglutide injection is covered by China's national health insurance program. Its indication is glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The dosage is once weekly subcutaneous injection, starting at 0.25 mg, increasing to 0.5 mg after 4 weeks, and further increasing to 1 mg if necessary. A weekly dose exceeding 1 mg is not recommended; if a dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible within 5 days.
Oral semaglutide tablets (trade name Rybelsus®, domestic brand name Novozymes®) are approved in China at doses of 3 mg, 7 mg, and 14 mg for monotherapy or combination therapy in adult patients with poorly controlled glycemic glucose.
In September 2025, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), based on the results of the SOUL clinical trial, approved an update to the label of its oral tablets, allowing its use for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
The core patent for semaglutide (CN200680006674.6) was declared entirely invalid by the China National Intellectual Property Administration in September 2022, and Novo Nordisk has appealed.
Currently, the approved indications for semaglutide injection in China are type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular indications, excluding weight management; however, its Phase III clinical trial for weight loss has been completed.