Pfizer's new weight management drug approved, bringing the strongest competitor to the weight loss field

On March 6th, the next-generation cAMP-biased GLP-1 receptor agonist, Enoglutide(Xuweiying), was approved for use in adult weight management in China.

On March 6th, Pfizer China announced that the National Medical Products Administration(NMPA) has officially approved the new generation cAMP-biased GLP-1 receptor agonist, Enoglutide injection(Xuweiying), for long-term weight management in adults with overweight/obesity based on dietary control and increased physical activity.

This approval marks an important milestone in Pfizer’s long-term scientific investment in the field of metabolic diseases in China and further demonstrates Pfizer’s continued commitment to innovation based on mechanisms to meet unmet patient needs.

The innovative mechanism of Enoglutide originates from the discovery of G protein-coupled receptor(GPCR), a Nobel Prize-winning achievement in 2012. Unlike traditional GLP-1 receptor agonists, Enoglutide selectively activates the cAMP signaling pathway while minimizing β-arrestin recruitment, thereby reducing receptor desensitization and internalization.

This biased mechanism may maintain the number of surface active receptors on cells, achieving more sustained and potent blood sugar and weight control; at the same time, it may reduce activation of signaling pathways associated with adverse reactions, resulting in better gastrointestinal tolerability; ultimately, it drives multiple metabolic benefits.

Professor Ji Linong, Director of Endocrinology at Peking University People’s Hospital,

Main researcher of the SLIMMER study

As the principal investigator of the large Phase III clinical trial(SLIMMER study), which enrolled 664 Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, Professor Ji Linong, Director of Endocrinology at Peking University People’s Hospital, stated: “Enoglutide, with its unique biased mechanism, breaks the previous clinical deadlock where ‘efficacy’ and ‘patient tolerability’ were difficult to balance. Patients achieved significant and sustained weight loss over 48 weeks, with no obvious plateau, and performed excellently in safety, tolerability, and cardiovascular metabolic indicators improvement. This steady weight loss and long-term maintenance characteristic provides an effective long-term weight management option for overweight and obese patients in China and globally.”

In the SLIMMER study, Enoglutide demonstrated clinically meaningful efficacy. After 48 weeks of treatment, the highest dose group(2.4mg) experienced an average weight loss of 15.4%, with 92.8% of participants achieving more than 5% weight reduction. The study also observed significant waist circumference reduction(average of 12.8 centimeters), and in participants with baseline fatty liver, liver fat content decreased by an average of 53.1%. Multiple metabolic indicators such as blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood glucose showed significant improvement; additionally, uric acid levels decreased by an average of 54.3 μmol/L.

Enoglutide is currently the only long-acting GLP-1 drug approved that is entirely composed of natural amino acids. This composition may be related to its good safety profile: gastrointestinal adverse reactions common in GLP-1 receptor agonist treatments are only mild to moderate, with a median duration of only 2-4 days. The treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse events is only 2%, and the proportion due to gastrointestinal adverse events is only 0.6%, supporting long-term patient adherence.

Notably, the SLIMMER study showed that patients’ weight continued to decrease throughout the 48-week treatment period without a plateau.

. Demonstrated clinically significant weight loss in a large Phase III clinical trial: after 48 weeks, participants’ average weight decreased by 15.4%, with 92.8% achieving more than 5% weight reduction.

. Showed good safety and tolerability: gastrointestinal adverse events were mostly mild to moderate, with a treatment discontinuation rate of only 2%, providing strong support for long-term adherence.

. Achieved sustained weight loss over the 48-week treatment period: no significant weight loss plateau was observed, effectively addressing a core challenge in long-term weight management.

Jean Christophe Pointeau, Senior Vice President of Pfizer Global and President of China,

Pfizer Global Senior Vice President and President of China Jean Christophe Pointeau stated: “The approval of Enoglutide for weight management is an important step in Pfizer’s ongoing investment in the field of metabolic diseases in China. We aim to continuously expand treatment options through scientific innovation, bringing tangible and lasting benefits to patients, and supporting the realization of China’s ‘Weight Management Year’ action plan.”