Novo Nordisk Showcases Seven Innovations at the 2nd China International Import Expo Amid Strategic Expansion in China

The 2nd China International Import Expo (CIIE) officially kicked off today. Novo Nordisk from Denmark participated again with the theme “Transforming Diabetes, Healthy China Dream.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of Novo Nordisk’s entry into China. As a global leader in biopharmaceuticals driven by research and innovation, Novo Nordisk shared its latest achievements in transforming diabetes care in China.

Novo Nordisk Participates in the 2nd China International Import Expo

Multiple Innovations Debut for the First Time:NovoMix® (insulin degludec/insulin aspart injection) and NordiFlex®, the injection device for Norditropin® (somatropin injection), the world’s best-selling growth hormone, along with other new drugs and medical devices approved annually, made their debut at the China International Import Expo.

Multiple Innovative Digital Health Solutions and Cross-Sector Healthcare Collaboration Projects:The INNOVO R&D Innovation Collaboration Project, the “Blue Link” Digital Out-of-Hospital Disease Management and Patient Education and Care Service Project for Doctor-Patient Interconnectivity, and the Internet Plus Intelligent Disease Management Platform “Zhi Tang Sheng Huo” Project. Meanwhile, Chongqing was officially announced as China’s “Sixth City” to join the “Cities Changing Diabetes” international collaboration platform;

Healthcare Insurance’s “Newcomer”:The New Member Included in the National Medical Insurance Catalogue in 2019—Insulin Degludec Injection (NovoRapid®)

Rising Stars:Clinical research findings on internationally significant innovative drugs, such as the weekly injectable formulation of the GLP-1 medication semaglutide (marketed abroad under the brand name Ozempic®), that are expected to enter the Chinese market in the future.

Novo Nordisk Booth at the 2nd China International Import Expo

Zhou Xiaping, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Greater China, stated, “Benefiting from the continuous optimization of China’s business environment and the development opportunities brought by the deepening of healthcare reform in China, Novo Nordisk China has made significant progress over the past year. At this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), Novo Nordisk presented a richer portfolio of health solutions with distinct Chinese characteristics. Among the seven key innovations showcased, three represent advancements in pharmaceuticals and injection devices, highlighting cutting-edge global medical technologies, while the four collaborative innovations mark breakthroughs achieved together with Chinese partners to further advance healthcare in China. Leveraging the prominent platform of the CIIE, these exhibits demonstrate Novo Nordisk’s determination and confidence in seizing opportunities in China and committing to its long-term development over the past 25 years.”

Zhou Xiaping, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Greater China, and Peng Yongde, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine and Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Innovation Debut, Designed for Chinese Patients

A series of new policies and people-benefiting measures in recent years have accelerated China’s healthcare reform. Novo Nordisk has been a witness, beneficiary, and driver of this progress. As the world’s first soluble co-formulation of two insulins, insulin degludec/insulin aspart injection (Ryzodeg®) was included in the National Priority Review and Approval List for Innovative Drugs in September 2018, due to its significant therapeutic advantages over existing treatments. In insulin degludec/insulin aspart injection, insulin degludec and insulin aspart act independently, leveraging the long-acting, stable, and peak-free glucose-lowering effect of insulin degludec and the rapid glucose-lowering action of insulin aspart to effectively control both fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels. Its 70:30 ratio aligns with the ideal proportion for basal-bolus insulin therapy, simplifying treatment and making it more suitable for Chinese patients. This May, the product received marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults, setting a new record for the fastest approval of a new drug since Novo Nordisk entered the Chinese market.

Peng Yongde, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine and Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Delivers a Speech to the Media on the Leading Advantages of “The World’s First Soluble Dual-Insulin Formulation: Insulin Degludec/Insulin Aspart”

The approval and inclusion in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) of the new-generation basal insulin analog, insulin degludec injection (NovoRada®), serves as another typical example. Following the initiation of reforms to the new drug review and approval system in 2015, insulin degludec was among the first batch of drugs selected for the National Priority Review and Approval List for Innovative Drugs. It received regulatory approval in September 2017 and was launched on the market in March 2018. In 2019, leveraging its superior efficacy and safety profile, NovoRada® was included in the NRDL for reimbursement in August, merely one year after its market launch, thereby setting a new record for the shortest time taken for a Novo Nordisk China new drug to gain NRDL inclusion. Looking ahead, it is believed that NovoRada® will help more Chinese patients with diabetes achieve "stable glucose lowering and easy attainment of treatment targets."

Device Iteration: Dedicated to the Safety of Pediatric and Orphan Drugs

Beyond breakthroughs in new drug development, Novo Nordisk continues to innovate its injection devices, with a particular focus on medication safety for children in the fields of diabetes and rare diseases such as growth disorders. At this year’s China International Import Expo, the company showcased NovoPen® Eco Junior, the first and only children’s insulin pen with memory function and half-unit dosing (0.5 IU) currently available on the Chinese market, along with NordiFlex®, the next-generation injection device for Norditropin® (somatropin), the world’s best-selling growth hormone, which was approved in China in April this year. These two products will provide safer and more convenient medication experiences for pediatric patients with diabetes and growth disorders.

United in Purpose, Charting the Industry Blueprint with Chinese Partners

For nearly a century, Novo Nordisk has been on its journey to “Change Diabetes,” witnessing the evolving history of diabetes as one of the greatest health challenges facing humanity in the process of urbanization. Novo Nordisk believes that while the development of new drugs is the primary contribution of innovative pharmaceutical companies, it is even more crucial for industry partners to embrace a “patient-centric” philosophy, pooling collective efforts to expand the “Change Diabetes” ecosystem.

The INNOVO innovation and R&D platform, the digital chronic disease management solution, and the “Cities Changing Diabetes” program showcased at this year’s China International Import Expo represent Novo Nordisk’s recent new initiatives to expand its business model and collaborate with various stakeholders to address the challenges of diabetes and other chronic metabolic diseases.

Since its launch in March 2019, the INNOVO innovative R&D platform has established 13 R&D collaborations, including with Peking UniversityMedicinea collaborative project on the druggability of atherosclerosis-related targets;

The Novo Nordisk-supported digital innovation diabetes management solution, the "Blue Link" project, was launched and implemented nationwide.

The “Zhitang Life” Internet+ Intelligent Disease Management Platform, developed in collaboration with Alibaba Health, has been successfully launched;

“Cities Changing Diabetes,” an innovative disease management model established in collaboration with government departments, academic institutions, and healthcare organizations in major cities worldwide, welcomes its sixth Chinese city—Chongqing—to the international cooperation platform.

Speech by Zhou Xiaping, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Greater China, Sharing with the Media on New Progress in Chongqing’s Participation in the “Cities Changing Diabetes” Program

Long-term Commitment, Supporting Healthy China 2030

Novo Nordisk’s exhibition area at this CIIE is located in the Medical Devices andPharmaceuticalsHall 7.1, Health & Wellness Zone: A 500-square-meter mega-booth—double the exhibition space of last year. The Nordic plaza-style split-level design highlights Novo Nordisk’s Nordic heritage. In addition to the debut exhibits mentioned above, Novo Nordisk showcased its high-quality, comprehensive portfolio of therapeutic products, extensive R&D pipeline information and cutting-edge international research achievements, international digital health solutions, the impressive results achieved over the past five years since the launch in China of the Cities Changing Diabetes international collaboration platform in reversing the trend of diabetes, as well as its various accomplishments during its 25 years of development in China.

Zhou Xiaping, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Greater China, stated: “International exchanges and economic and trade cooperation are helping China build an open economic development pattern that is rich in content, effective in results, and beneficial to the people. Through platforms such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), while opening its market to the world, China is also continuously promoting the growth of an open world economy—this represents a significant opportunity for multinational pharmaceutical companies and all foreign-invested enterprises. As a company with nearly a century of focus on diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has been committed to introducing innovative medicines and advancing the standards of diabetes diagnosis and treatment during its 25 years in China, striving to comprehensively reshape the diabetes ecosystem on a broad scale. Moving forward, Novo Nordisk will continue to leverage ‘innovation’ and ‘collaboration’ to advance China’s efforts in transforming diabetes care, contributing to the realization of the ‘Healthy China 2030’ vision.”