Eli Lilly announced plans to invest $3 billion in China over the next decade, aiming to expand manufacturing capacity for its experimental diabetes and obesity drug, orforglipron.
The investment will support production and commercialization of orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 therapy designed to treat type-2 diabetes and assist with significant weight reduction.
The U.S. drugmaker confirmed it submitted a marketing application for the treatment to China’s drug regulator at the end of 2025.
Orforglipron, a once-daily non-peptide GLP-1 agonist, delivered promising results in late-stage trials among overweight adults without diabetes.
Participants taking the highest dose lost an average of 12.4% of body weight after 72 weeks, highlighting strong potential in the rapidly growing obesity treatment market.
The announcement comes ahead of a high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for later this month.
While Lilly expands its presence in China, other pharmaceutical groups are taking a different approach to the market.
Bristol Myers Squibb previously agreed to sell its 60% stake in a Chinese pharmaceutical joint venture, including a Shanghai manufacturing facility.
