The UK Government, devolved nations and NHS England have signed a collaboration agreement with Lilly, the pharmaceutical giant behind weight loss medication tirzepatide.
The Government said the ‘strategic’ agreement will see Lilly investing a further £279m in the UK life sciences industry, in a bid to find new treatment models for major illnesses including obesity.
Lilly also said it will launch a UK-based real-world study into the effects of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) on patients who take the weight loss medication, which could inform the NHS pathway for treatment of obesity.
It will evaluate the real-world effectiveness of tirzepatide in weight loss, diabetes prevention and prevention of obesity-related complications for adults with obesity.
It will also collect data on healthcare resource utilisation, health-related quality of life and changes in participants’ employment status and sick days from work, the company said.
The Government said the memorandum of understanding with the company ‘aims to set the stage’ for Government ‘to work with industry to trial innovative approaches to treating obesity as part of a rounded package of care’.
Lilly said this could include digital tools that could support people living with obesity.
The MoU also includes Lilly aiming to undertake more of its clinical trials in the UK.
Subject to draft guidance being made permanent, tirzepatide is the first weight-loss drug recommended by NICE to be prescribed directly by GPs, for patients with a BMI over 35kg/m2 and one weight-related comorbidity.
However, NHS England recently wrote to NICE setting out proposed plans for a phased approach to the rollout of the drug in primary care, to ensure general practice was not overwhelmed.
NHS England said it would need longer than the 90 days usually required for health services to implement NICE guidelines because the impact on general practice would be ‘profound’.
It also wants to raise the threshold BMI to 40 for the first two or three years of the phased rollout.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: ‘Obesity is one of the biggest public health issues we face. Today’s momentous agreement shows the NHS is uniquely well-placed globally not just to bring effective treatments to those who would benefit most, but also to support science, research, jobs and economic growth across the country.
‘We now have an important chance to gain a better understanding of the benefits of weight management interventions for patients, and how best to deliver them over the next few years.’
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘For all the challenges facing the health of our nation, we have two huge advantages: some of the world’s leading scientific minds, and a National Health Service with enormous potential.
‘If we can combine the two, patients in this country can reap the rewards of the revolution in medical science unfolding before our eyes.
‘This announcement helps the UK take its place as a world leader in life sciences and brings life-changing treatments closer to being a reality for NHS patients. Partnerships like this are key to building a healthier society, healthier economy, and making the NHS fit for the future.’
However, this week, GPs and other health professionals have called for an urgent review of ‘insufficient’ obesity management services in light of increased public demand for weight-loss drugs.
Over 200 doctors and specialists, including an RCGP representative, warned Wes Streeting today that new obesity drugs are putting ‘immense pressure’ on ‘already overstretched’ weight management services in England.
Today’s letter was coordinated by the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA), a group representing 60 medical royal colleges, charities and campaign groups, which has also published a report setting out key recommendations for the Government.
Its principal demand is for the health secretary to commission a ‘comprehensive independent review’ of existing overweight and obesity management services within the next six to 12 months.
This would establish the ‘cost-savings case for expansion of treatment services’ and also identify best practice, according to the alliance.
According to NHS England calculations, around 2.8 million patients would be eligible for tirzepatide as draft NICE recommendations currently stand.
If everyone came forward and 70% of those were started on treatment around 18% of GP appointments would be taken up just initiating and managing the medicine, NHSE has predicted.
The cost of the medicine alone in the second year of use would come in around £2.9bn, equivalent to 28% of the entire primary care medicines budget, it added.
Last month it was revealed that 64% of adults were overweight or obese in 2022.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
