Effective September 1: Original Semaglutide Injection Included in the New National Essential Medicines List

On September 1, the "National Essential Medicines List (2026 Edition)" officially took effect. The GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) semaglutide [injection: 1.34mg/ml, 1.5ml (prefilled injection pen); 1.34mg/ml, 3ml (prefilled injection pen), Novo Nordisk brand name Rybelsus®], the long-acting basal insulin degludec (injection: 3ml : 300 units, Novo Nordisk brand name Tresiba®), and the rapid-acting insulin aspart (injection: 3ml : 300 units, Novo Nordisk brand name Novorapid®) were included in the new list. This adjustment marks a significant update to the National Essential Medicines List since 2018. The inclusion of innovative hypoglycemic treatments further enhances their accessibility in primary healthcare institutions, providing better options for standardized diabetes management at the grassroots level.

Semaglutide injection (Rybelsus®) is currently the only once-weekly GLP-1 RA included in the essential medicines list, meeting the needs of integrated glycemic, cardiovascular, and renal management.

Previously, semaglutide injection (Rybelsus®) was included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2025 Edition) by the World Health Organization as a preferred recommendation. Its inclusion in China's essential medicines list reflects dual recognition and recommendation from both the WHO and China's health authorities, filling the gap in the national essential medicines list for once-weekly GLP-1 RAs.

As the only approved once-weekly GLP-1 RA for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular indications, and chronic kidney disease indications, Rybelsus® can assist in managing diabetes along with cardiovascular and renal comorbidities. Clinical data from Chinese populations show that Rybelsus® significantly reduces HbA1c by up to 1.8%, achieving an HbA1c (<7%) target rate of 86.1%. Meanwhile, it significantly reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 26% and the risk of renal composite events by 24%, while also significantly improving multiple metabolic indicators such as blood lipids, blood pressure, and body weight.

Comprehensive market access across "three lists, two essential medicine lists": Semaglutide injection (Rybelsus®) demonstrates good safety and benefits grassroots patients.

Currently, the prevention and treatment of diabetes at the grassroots level in China faces multiple challenges, including insufficient patient awareness, poor compliance, heavy economic burden, uneven allocation of medical resources, and limited diagnostic and treatment capabilities, all of which urgently need improvement. The "Healthy China Action - Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Implementation Plan (2024-2030)" explicitly states that by 2030, the standardized management service rate for type 2 diabetic patients at the grassroots level in China will reach 70% or above.

The selection of the "National Essential Medicines List" follows the principles of "essential for prevention and treatment, safe and effective, reasonably priced, and convenient to use." In terms of suitability for primary care, semaglutide injection (Rybelsus®) exhibits good safety and convenience. Its intelligent glucose-lowering mechanism results in a very low incidence of hypoglycemic events, with good long-term safety and tolerability, and no hypoglycemia when used as monotherapy. Its once-weekly injection significantly reduces the frequency of injections. The dose adjustment protocol is easy to operate, eliminating the need for self-blood glucose monitoring for dose adjustments, making it easy for primary care doctors to guide and master, and highly suitable for 配备 and use in medical institutions at all levels.

This market access allows semaglutide injection (Rybelsus®) to achieve comprehensive inclusion in the WHO and China's essential medicines lists, as well as China's medical insurance list. It becomes the only once-weekly GLP-1 RA simultaneously included in the National Medical Insurance List, the National Essential Medicines List, and the WHO Essential Medicines List, achieving "three lists, two essential medicine lists" access, promoting multi-disease co-management, benefiting grassroots patients, and supporting the "Healthy China" strategy.

Dr. Yan Cai, Global Senior Vice President and President of Greater China at Novo Nordisk, stated: "As a global biopharmaceutical company deeply rooted in the diabetes field for over a century, we sincerely thank the National Health Commission and relevant government departments, as well as experts in various fields, for their efforts in continuously improving the essential medicine system and promoting list updates. We are very pleased that the original research drug from Denmark can enter primary care, become daily medication for the public, and benefit more Chinese diabetic patients. Novo Nordisk will continue to support primary healthcare empowerment based on its full industry chain layout, enabling more Chinese diabetic patients to benefit from globally leading high-quality medical innovation achievements, and assisting in the realization of the 'Healthy China 2030' chronic disease management goals."

In addition to semaglutide injection (Rybelsus®), this list adjustment simultaneously includes long-acting basal insulin degludec injection (Tresiba®) and rapid-acting insulin aspart injection (Novorapid®), constructing a diverse treatment regimen combination from basal insulin, mealtime insulin to GLP-1 RA, providing primary clinical doctors with richer and better clinically tailored treatment choices to meet individualized treatment needs.

About Rybelsus®

Rybelsus® (semaglutide injection) is the world's first and only GLP-1 RA with three indications: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular protection, and renal protection. Rybelsus® has a homology of up to 94% with human natural GLP-1. While effectively lowering blood sugar and reducing weight, it brings comprehensive cardiovascular and renal protection to patients. GLP-1 RAs with evidence of cardiovascular and renal benefits have received consistent recognition and recommendation from authoritative domestic and international diabetes guidelines, becoming the preferred first-line option recommended by current ADA guidelines for the clinical management of type 2 diabetes.

About Tresiba®

Tresiba® (degudec insulin injection) is indicated for the treatment of adult type 2 diabetes. Following the national centralized procurement, it was selected in the first special insulin centralized procurement in 2021 and successfully renewed in 2024. Effective blood sugar lowering, easy target achievement, improved fasting blood glucose control, TIR can reach the control target of 70%, with a low risk of hypoglycemia. Original research quality, trustworthy. Marketed in China for nearly 10 years, compared to generic drugs, it has rich clinical application experience and sufficient evidence-based medical evidence. Once a day, flexible administration. Tresiba® K-Chong® is easier than the cartridge® without installation.

About Novorapid®

Novorapid® (insulin aspart injection) is indicated for the treatment of diabetes. Novorapid® is a rapid-acting insulin analog, acting quickly, peaking rapidly, and with a shorter duration of action. Compared to human insulin, rapid-acting insulin analogs act faster, with a lower risk of hypoglycemia, and can significantly reduce postprandial blood glucose and hypoglycemia risks in T1DM and T2DM patients. Compared to non-original insulin, original insulin has a complete R&D process and unique manufacturing technology. Novorapid® original research quality, launched globally in 1999 and in China in 2002, gaining trust from global doctors and patients. Widely used in clinical practice, suitable for various types of diabetic patients, with diverse administration routes and compatibility. It has been included in the 2024 National Drug Centralized Procurement List. Novorapid® K-Chong® is easier than the cartridge® without installation.