The new version of the National Drug List came into effect on September 1. Simeglutide injection (Novotai®) provides a new choice for primary diabetes medication

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on September 1, the “National Essential Drug Catalogue (2026 Edition)” officially came into effect. GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) for the treatment of adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (RA) smeglutide [injection: 1.34mg/ml, 1.5ml (pre-filled injection pen); 1.34mg/ml, 3ml (pre-filled syringe pen), Novo Nordisk brand name Novartite®], long-acting basic insulin Degu Insulin (injection: 3ml: 300 units, Novo Nordisk brand name Novartis®) and the fast-acting insulin mondongan insulin (injection: 3ml: 300 units, Novo Nordisk and Nordisk trade names (Rui®) is included in the new catalogue. This adjustment is an important update of the “National Essential Medicines Catalogue” since 2018. The inclusion of innovative hypoglycemic drugs has further enhanced their accessibility in primary care institutions and provided better options for standardized management of primary diabetes.

Simeglutide injection (Novotai®) is currently the only GLP-1 RA weekly preparation incorporating a base drug to meet the common treatment of glycocardiorenal administration

Previously, simeglutide injection (Novartis®) was included by the World Health Organization in the “2025 WHO Basic Drugs List” and recommended as a preferred recommendation. This time, simeglutide injection was included in China's basic drug catalogue, which shows that this molecule has received double approval and double recommendation from WHO and China's medical and health authorities, filling the gap in GLP-1 RA weekly preparation in China's basic drug catalogue.

As the only GLP-1 RA weekly preparation currently approved for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular indications, and chronic kidney disease, Novartis® can help diabetes and cardio-renal co-management. According to research data from the Chinese population, Novotai® significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 1.8%, and the HbA1c (< 7%) compliance rate was as high as 86.1%. At the same time, it can significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular adverse events by 26%, significantly reduce the risk of kidney complications by 24%, and significantly improve various metabolic indicators such as blood lipids, blood pressure, and body weight.

The “Three Catalogs, Dual Base Drugs” are fully accepted. Simeglutide injection (Novotai®) is safe and benefits primary care patients

Currently, primary diabetes prevention and treatment in China faces multiple challenges such as insufficient patient awareness, poor compliance, heavy financial burden, unequal allocation of primary care resources, and limited diagnosis and treatment capacity. The level of prevention and treatment needs to be improved urgently. The “Healthy China Action - Diabetes Prevention and Control Action Implementation Plan (2024-2030)” clearly states that by 2030, the grass-roots standardized management service rate for patients with type 2 diabetes in China will reach 70% or more.

The selection of the “National Essential Drug Catalogue” follows the principles of “essential for prevention and treatment, safe and effective, reasonable in price, and easy to use”. In terms of suitability at the grassroots level, simeglutide injection (Novartite®) has shown good safety and convenience. Its intelligent hypoglycemic mechanism makes the incidence of hypoglycemic events extremely low, safe and tolerable for long-term use, and no hypoglycemia when used as a single drug. One injection per week can greatly reduce the number of injections. The dose adjustment plan is easy to operate, there is no need for self-blood sugar monitoring to adjust the dose, and it is easy for primary doctors to guide and master, making it ideal for medical institutions at all levels.

With this admission, simeglutide injection (Novotac®) has completed full admission to WHO and China's medical insurance catalogue, making it currently the only GLP-1 RA weekly preparation that is also included in the national health insurance catalogue, the national essential drug catalogue and the WHO essential drug catalogue. It has achieved “three catalogue, dual base drug” admission, promoted multi-disease co-management, and helped the “Healthy China” strategy.

Dr. Cai Yan, Global Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk (NVO.US) and President of Greater China, said, “As a global biopharmaceutical company that has been deeply involved in the field of diabetes for 100 years, we sincerely thank the National Health Commission, relevant government departments, and experts in various fields for their efforts in continuously improving the essential medicine system and promoting catalogue updates. We are very happy that the original research drug from Denmark can enter the grassroots level and become people's daily medicine, benefiting more Chinese diabetics. Novo Nordisk will continue to use the entire industry chain layout as the cornerstone to support the empowerment of primary care, so that more Chinese diabetics can benefit from the world's leading high-quality medical innovations and help achieve the 'Healthy China 2030' chronic disease management goal.”

In addition to simeglutide injections (Novartis®), this catalogue adjustment simultaneously incorporates long-acting basic insulin German insulin injections (Novartis®) and fast-acting insulin menthong insulin injections (Novartis®) to construct a diverse treatment package from basic insulin, meal insulin to GLP-1 RA, providing primary clinicians with richer clinical treatment options that better meet individualized treatment needs.