Endomorphisms of quantum generalized Weyl algebras

We prove that every endomorphism of a simple quantum generalized Weyl algebra $A$ over a commutative Laurent polynomial ring in one variable is an automorphism. This is achieved by obtaining an explicit classification of all endomorphisms of $A$. Our main result applies to minimal primitive factors of the quantized enveloping algebra of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$ and certain minimal primitive quotients of the positive part of $U_q(\mathfrak{so}_5)$.