China Online Pharmacy Sales Break 700B Yuan, Semaglutide Surges 142% to Top
China’s online pharmacy sales hit ¥715B in 2024. Semaglutide surged 142%, overtaking sildenafil as the #1 product. Local players like Xingsha and Sunshine Mandi joined AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer among the top sellers
Online drug retailing in China reached a new milestone in 2024, with total sales surpassing 715 billion yuan. Once a niche channel, it has evolved into a mainstream option, driven by “Internet + Healthcare” policies, shifting consumer habits (especially among younger users), and growing demand for chronic disease management.
Market Overview: Chemical Drugs Drive Growth
- Total 2024 sales: 715.13 billion yuan (+31.7% YoY, record high).
- Category breakdown:
- Chemical drugs: 451.33 billion yuan (+34.6%), 63.1% share.
- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): 235.7 billion yuan (+22.3%), 33.0%.
- Q1 2025 momentum: overall +80.8% YoY, with chemical drugs surging +94.9% and TCM +58.9%.
By ATC classification: digestive & metabolic drugs led (24.7%), supported by strong demand for GLP-1s and other chronic disease therapies, followed by dermatologicals (12.2%), genitourinary (10.8%), and cardiovascular (10.0%). Oral formulations dominated at 77%, with topicals at 12.7% and injectables at 3.0%.
Top 10 Drugs: Semaglutide Reshapes the Rankings
The 2024 top 10 drugs in online pharmacies captured 15.5% of the market, with seven exceeding 10 billion yuan in sales.
| Rank | Drug (generic) | 2024 Sales (¥B) | 2023 Sales (¥B) | Growth (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | semaglutide injection | 17.76 | 7.34 | +142% | Novo Nordisk; diabetes + weight loss |
| 2 | orlistat capsules | 13.09 | 7.16 | +82.8% | Obesity treatment |
| 3 | sildenafil citrate tablets | 13.06 | 11.62 | +12.4% | Men’s health; Pfizer’s Viagra 39.2% share |
| 4 | minoxidil tincture | 12.51 | 11.47 | +9.1% | Hair loss |
| 5 | tadalafil tablets | 12.20 | 9.85 | +23.9% | Men’s health |
| 6 | vitamin D drops | 12.16 | 9.02 | +34.8% | Pediatric/osteoporosis |
| 7 | vitamin AD drops | 10.40 | 7.79 | +33.5% | Pediatric |
| 8 | donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao) | 7.14 | 5.74 | +24.4% | TCM tonic |
| 9 | sodium hyaluronate eye drops | 6.28 | 4.88 | +28.7% | Ophthalmology; dry eye |
| 10 | dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets | 6.25 | 6.60 | –5.3% | Premature ejaculation; declining |
Key shifts:
- Semaglutide leapfrogged from #6 to #1, overtaking sildenafil, reflecting its dual use in diabetes and weight management and amplified by social media buzz (Weibo, Xiaohongshu).
- Sodium hyaluronate eye drops entered the top 10 for the first time, topping 6B yuan as dry-eye prevalence rises.
- Dapoxetine declined (–5.3%), suggesting shifting dynamics in men’s health where sildenafil and tadalafil remain dominant.
Competition in erectile dysfunction is intense, , with 96 active production approvals across 55 companies.: Pfizer’s Viagra leads with 39.2% market share, followed by Baiyunshan’s Jinge (35.7%) and Qilu Pharma (10.3%).
Company Landscape: Multinationals Lead, Locals Hold Ground
Six companies exceeded 10B yuan in 2024 online sales.
- Top multinationals: AstraZeneca (>21B), Novo Nordisk, Bayer, Pfizer.
- Four Chinese leaders (31.7% combined share):
- Sinopharm Xing Sha (vitamin D drops, 9.8%)
- Sunshine Mandi (minoxidil, 8.2%)
- Dong-E-E-Jiao's Ejiao (7.0%)
- Beijing Tongrentang (6.7%)
Xingsha and Mandi both surpassed 10B yuan with single products—underscoring the “blockbuster-driven” approach of leading local firms.
Global Comparison: Similar Trends, Different Scale
Semaglutide is fueling demand globally:
- United States: Ozempic/Wegovy >$10B sales in 2024; shortages persist as weight-loss demand outpaces diabetes. Online pharmacy penetration grows via Amazon Pharmacy, CVS, and telehealth apps.
- Europe: Demand strong but tightly regulated; prescriptions prioritized for diabetes patients, limiting weight-loss access online.
- China: Faster growth (+31.7% vs. 10–20% in US/EU), but per-capita online spend remains low (~$70 vs. $400+ in US). Distinctive features include TCM integration and hyper-competitive generics (e.g., 96 sildenafil approvals).
Outlook
China’s online pharmacy sector—now at 700B yuan scale—is driven by chemical drugs and lifestyle/chronic disease blockbusters such as semaglutide, sildenafil, and minoxidil. With policy support, shifting consumer behavior, and the nationwide scale of digital platforms, the channel is positioned for further expansion.
For pharmaceutical companies, priorities include:
- Strengthening digital marketing and e-commerce partnerships.
- Managing supply chain resilience for high-demand categories like GLP-1s.
- Positioning competitively in fast-growing segments (weight management, men’s health, ophthalmology).
Sources
- Pharnexcloud Database (formerly Moentropy)
- IQVIA, China Pharmaceutical Market Trends 2024
- CNNIC, China Internet Development Report 2024
⚠️ Note: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or medical advice. Official announcements or company statements should be consulted for decisions.