- β68% of patients on the 3 mg dose achieved the ADA's HbA1c target of under 7.0% β a strong success rate for a first diabetes medication
- βHbA1c reductions of up to 2.15 percentage points rival or exceed many currently approved GLP-1 medications in similar drug-naive populations
- βOnce-weekly dosing with a favorable safety profile mirrors the convenience and tolerability of established GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Trulicity
| Country | China |
| Journal | Diabetologia |
| Year | 2026 |
| Authors | Zhu, Ma, Wang |
| PMID | 41272211 |
China Tests New Once-Weekly GLP-1 Shot That Rivals Ozempic for Type 2 Diabetes
A study from China has found that a new once-weekly injectable diabetes medication called efsubaglutide alfa significantly lowered blood sugar and promoted weight loss in people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes β offering a potential new option in the growing class of GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs that includes well-known medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) and dulaglutide (Trulicity).
What Makes This Research Valuable for US Patients
China now has one of the largest populations of people living with type 2 diabetes in the world β estimated at over 140 million β making it a critical testing ground for new diabetes therapies. Rigorous clinical trials conducted in China increasingly follow international standards and often signal which medications may eventually seek FDA approval in the United States. Understanding what works in large, well-designed Chinese trials gives American patients and providers an early look at the diabetes treatment pipeline.
About the Study
Researchers at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, affiliated with Nanjing University School of Medicine, conducted this Phase IIb/III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (called SUPER1) involving 437 adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar was not adequately controlled through diet and exercise alone. Participants had not yet started any diabetes medication. They received once-weekly subcutaneous injections of efsubaglutide alfa at either 1 mg or 3 mg, or a placebo, for up to 52 weeks.
Key Findings (in US Units)
- HbA1c reduction: After 24 weeks, patients on the 1 mg dose reduced their HbA1c by 1.73 percentage points, while those on the 3 mg dose reduced it by 2.15 percentage points β both significantly better than placebo.
- Blood sugar targets reached: 56% of the 1 mg group and 68% of the 3 mg group achieved an HbA1c below 7.0% β the standard target recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for most non-pregnant adults.
- Fasting blood glucose: The 1 mg dose reduced fasting blood glucose by approximately 37 mg/dL, and the 3 mg dose by approximately 45 mg/dL, compared to placebo differences of roughly 31 mg/dL and 39 mg/dL respectively.
- Post-meal blood sugar (2-hour): Reductions of approximately 67 mg/dL (1 mg) and 83 mg/dL (3 mg) from baseline, with placebo-adjusted differences of roughly 58 mg/dL and 74 mg/dL.
- Weight loss: The 3 mg dose produced a statistically significant body weight reduction of 3.14%, while the 1 mg dose showed a modest 0.97% reduction that did not reach statistical significance versus placebo.
- Side effects: The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal β nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite β consistent with other GLP-1 medications and mostly mild to moderate in severity.
How Does This Compare to US Guidelines?
The ADA's 2024 Standards of Care recommend GLP-1 receptor agonists as a preferred early add-on therapy for type 2 diabetes, particularly when weight loss or cardiovascular benefit is a goal. Efsubaglutide alfa's HbA1c reductions are comparable to or exceed those seen with approved GLP-1 RAs in similar drug-naive populations. The 68% target achievement rate at the 3 mg dose is particularly notable β many approved agents achieve between 50β70% in comparable trials.
Why This Matters for US Patients
The GLP-1 medication class has transformed diabetes care, but access and cost remain barriers for many American patients. A new competitor in this drug class could eventually expand options and improve affordability. Additionally, the SUPER1 trial's focus on drug-naive patients β those starting medication for the first time β directly mirrors the situation many newly diagnosed Americans face. If efsubaglutide alfa advances toward FDA review, US patients and clinicians will benefit from having this safety and efficacy data already in hand.
Study Citation
Zhu, Ma, Wang et al. "Efficacy and safety of efsubaglutide alfa in individuals with type 2 diabetes (SUPER1): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase IIb/III trial." Diabetologia (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s00125-025-06593-2. PMID: 41272211. Sponsored by Innogen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04994288.