ShanghaiJune 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On June 3, 2026, the marketing authorization application for Hansoh Pharma’s innovative drug, Olepotide Injection, was accepted by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), indicated for long-term weight management in adults with obesity or overweight.
Olepotide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) dual receptor agonist independently developed by Hansoh Pharma. By selectively activating GLP-1/GIP receptors, it modulates metabolic pathways related to appetite control, glucose metabolism, and energy balance, producing biological effects such as glucose regulation and weight loss. It is administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection.
Olepotide’s potent weight loss effects with reduced nausea and vomiting are linked to its unique pharmacological properties. GLP-1 and GIP synergistically regulate blood glucose, food intake, and body weight, while GIP receptor activation can also reduce nausea and vomiting. Upon activation of GLP-1 or GIP receptors, both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway and the β-arrestin-2 pathway are initiated. The former provides metabolic benefits, while the latter can lead to receptor internalization, affecting weight loss and glucose-lowering efficacy. Biased GLP-1 receptor agonists favor cAMP generation over β-arrestin-2 recruitment and receptor internalization upon activation. Olepotide, as a dual biased receptor agonist, exhibits cAMP bias in activating both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. This characteristic helps maintain potent therapeutic effects while minimizing gastrointestinal adverse reactions and improving tolerability.
In 2026, a real-world study presented at the European Congress on Obesity showed that among nearly 90,000 patients using mainstream GLP-1 class drugs, up to 50.1% discontinued treatment within the first year after initiation. Reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events and treatment discontinuation rates has become a key differentiator in the weight-loss drug race, and Olepotide’s outstanding performance in this regard clearly offers patients a better experience.
Currently, in the global filing sequence for GLP-1/GIP dual-target weight-loss drugs, Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide is the first approved product worldwide. Hengrui Medicine’s HRS9531 had its marketing application accepted by the NMPA on September 1, 2025, making it the first domestic and second global candidate. Hansoh Pharma’s Olepotide had its application accepted by the NMPA on June 3, 2026, ranking as the second domestic and third global candidate.
This drug candidate entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Regeneron in June 2025, under which Hansoh Pharma granted Regeneron exclusive global rights (excluding Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau) for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of Olepotide (HS-20094). The terms include an upfront payment of $80 million, milestone payments of up to $1.93 billion (covering development, regulatory, and sales milestones), and double-digit percentage (i.e., over 10%) royalties on future potential product sales. Regeneron has positioned Olepotide as a core development pipeline in its weight-loss field, undoubtedly opening up greater possibilities for the future.