Obesity jabs will be tested and made in Britain under government plans to boost NHS supplies and tackle the country’s bulging waistlines.
Ministers believe the breakthrough drugs could play a major role in boosting productivity, with weight-related diseases costing the economy £74 billion a year.
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology will work with industry to determine how the jabs can reduce demand on healthcare and get people back to work.
It comes as doctors prepare for the mass rollout of weight loss jabs on the NHS and follows widespread reports of global shortages.
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which makes the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government in which they will work together to improve care for people with obesity.
Obesity jabs will be tested and made in Britain under government plans to boost NHS supplies and tackle the country’s bulging waistlines
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NHS-backed data source OpenPrescribe shows rising prescriptions for semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy
The deal, announced at the International Investment Summit in London, includes the testing and development of new slimming pills and smartphone apps and measures to create a manufacturing base in Britain.
Eli Lilly will also evaluate the effectiveness of Mounjaro in practice during a five-year study, in collaboration with the University of Manchester.
It will specifically quantify the drug’s long-term effects on obesity, the incidence of diabetes and weight-related complications, as well as its effects on employment, sick days and quality of life.
The evidence generated will help inform how the NHS treats obesity, the government said.
Previous studies have shown that Mounjaro, described as the ‘King Kong’ of fat-burning jabs, can help people lose up to 26 percent of their body weight in a year and a half.
Two in three Britons are overweight or obese, and NHS figures show that people now weigh around a stone more than they did 30 years ago.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the Daily Mail: ‘This is the start of a partnership that aims to put Britain in pole position as a global testbed for the development and testing of anti-obesity drugs – a huge market that could increase fivefold. worldwide by 2030.
Tirzepatide, Mounjaro’s active ingredient, is very effective, but some significant side effects can also occur
‘It sets the stage for a trial in UK patients to better understand the long-term health and economic benefits of these drugs, and aims to see Eli Lilly establish their first biotech hub in Europe on these shores – and I hope that future conversations will lead to obesity drugs rolling off UK production lines in the near future.
‘The economic benefits of working with a company like this are obvious, but even more profound when you dig into them.
‘For the NHS, which faces a bill of over £11 billion a year from obesity-related diseases.
‘And for people who cannot fully participate in work due to health problems related to their weight.
‘And for our society as a whole – which is currently burdened by £74 billion in obesity-related costs caused by health problems and lost productivity combined.’
Eli Lilly will also evaluate the effectiveness of Mounjaro in practice during a five-year study, in collaboration with the University of Manchester.
US deaths from semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, found in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Yellow is used for 2024 because the data is incomplete
Eli Lilly expects to make a further £279 million of new investment in Britain, bringing Lilly’s expected total domestic investment in Britain to £435 million.
The company said: ‘The UK government and Lilly will work together to explore future investment opportunities in the UK, including potential investments in manufacturing sites or collaborations with UK venture capital funds and academic institutions.’
David A. Ricks, chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly, added: “We welcome this opportunity to partner with the UK government to tackle and prevent disease, and accelerate innovation to advance healthcare delivery models.
“Today’s announcement is an important milestone, and we are pleased to reinforce Lilly’s commitment to improving the health of people living with obesity and its serious consequences.”
Health Minister Wes Streeting said: ‘Partnerships like this are vital for building a healthier society and economy, and making the NHS fit for the future.’
Obesity is the second most common cause of preventable death after smoking and costs the healthcare system £11.4 billion per year.
The NHS is preparing for the mass rollout of weight loss jabs to 1.6 million patients.
They will target the heaviest and sickest first, the government said last month.
Draft guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommend Mounjaro injections for people with a BMI of at least 35, as well as weight-related health problems.
Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, said: ‘Obesity is one of the biggest public health issues we face, and we know that weight loss drugs will be a game-changer, alongside previous prevention strategies, by supporting many more people to lose weight traps. and reduce their risk of fatal conditions such as diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
‘Today’s momentous agreement shows that the NHS worldwide is uniquely well placed not only to deliver effective new treatments to those who benefit most from them, but also to drive science, research, jobs and economic growth in the support the entire country.
‘We now have an important opportunity to better understand the benefits of weight management interventions for patients, and how we can best deliver them in the coming years.’