Government partners with Mounjaro maker to tackle obesity
The £85 million programme from Eli Lilly and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been designed to look at how obese patients can access weight management care more easily.
This includes through community services, in pharmacies and online.
Using these tools, eligible patients could be treated 'in a matter of months', according to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Under the agreement, the Government will contribute up to £50 million in UK-wide investment.
Meanwhile, Eli Lilly will back the programme with £35 million, and NHS organisations will be able to apply for a share of the funding.
Successful applicants can then use the cash to run and assess a pilot to build evidence for efficient obesity care in the UK.
Eligible patients could be able to access these innovative services by summer 2026, the Government said.
Mr Streeting warned that obesity is one of the leading causes of ill health and costs the health service billions.
'Yet, we now have the science, technology and knowledge to help tackle the obesity epidemic, if we seize this opportunity,' he added.
'This collaboration will help patients living with obesity in a matter of months – through testing better access to weight loss services and treatments.
'In the long-term it will inform how we can better tackle one of the biggest modern day health challenges and, through our Plan for Change, create an NHS that is fit for the future.'
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said new ways of accessing support 'could be transformational for people's quality of life, and for society'.
They could free obese people from 'ill-health that holds them back in daily life – while reducing the strain on our NHS', he added.
NHS England national medical director Dr Claire Fuller said: 'Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges we face and costs the NHS billions of pounds every year, so this collaboration between government and industry to drive new ways of supporting people with obesity could make a huge difference.
'The NHS is already developing and rolling out a range of ways to help people to manage their weight and live healthier lives, with patients benefiting from wraparound care from local weight management teams and via online support services, but we are excited by the potential of this collaboration to accelerate efforts to tackle obesity as the NHS moves from treatment to prevention as part of the 10-Year Health Plan.'
Professor Rachel Batterham, senior vice president for international medical affairs at Lilly said: 'The launch of this programme marks an important milestone in advancing new models of care for obesity.'
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, welcomed the announcement but warned that funding should cover costs for pharmacies.
'This is a vital step forward in addressing one of the most pressing health challenges facing our country,' he said.
'It's important that any funding made available is sufficient to cover the costs involved for pharmacies to provide wraparound care and support.
'Community pharmacies already support over 1.4 million people every month with weight management services delivered by pharmacists who are highly trained professionals providing expert, accessible care.
'Despite this, the current NHS rollout remains extremely limited, with only a small number of eligible patients receiving support for obesity with weight loss treatments, and it is vital that this changes.
'With the right funding, pharmacies can scale up delivery quickly – ensuring more people get the help they need, when and where they need it.'
News of the programme comes after Lilly published the results of a trial assessing a new daily pill for weight loss, which could offer a new and convenient alternative to jabs.
People taking orforglipron lost an average of 12.3 kilograms in 72 weeks compared with those not taking the drug.
The phased NHS roll-out of Lilly's weight loss jab Mounjaro to patients in England started in June for patients with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 and at least four co-morbidities.
Over the next three years, about 240,000 patients are expected to be eligible for the treatment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
4 minutes ago
- Reuters
One in four US adults with diabetes used a GLP-1 drug last year, survey finds
Aug 14 (Reuters) - More than one in four U.S. adults with diabetes used one of the injectable medicines that target the GLP-1 protein last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. The wildly popular and effective GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro from Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab and Ozempic from Novo Nordisk ( opens new tab are approved in the United States for treating type 2 diabetes. They are sold as Zepbound and Wegovy, respectively, for weight loss and are being tested for other conditions. Use of the injectable drugs was highest among adults with diabetes aged 50–64 at 33.3%, reflecting the more significant disease burden in this group, the report said. A quarter or 25.3% of adults with diabetes aged 18 to 34 reported using a GLP-1 drug, while the adoption rate was 20.8% among those 65 and older. The data are from a nationally representative annual survey of U.S. adults aged 18 and older that was conducted in person and with follow-up by phone in 2024. In 2024, for the first time, participants in the annual survey who had diabetes were asked if they were using the Lilly or Novo blockbusters or other GLP-1 drugs to lower blood sugar or lose weight. The drugs mimic the activity of a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, slows digestion and helps people feel full for longer. Drugmakers Lilly and Novo have faced criticism about the cost of the treatments, which carry a list price of about $1,000 for a month's supply. Roughly 31% of survey participants who reported using insulin also reported using GLP-1 drugs, as did about 28% of patients who were using oral drugs to control their blood sugar, according to the report, indicating that these treatments are being integrated into combination regimens. Hispanic adults with diabetes had the highest rate of GLP-1 use, at 31.3%, followed by Black non-Hispanic and White non-Hispanic adults, at 26.5% and 26.2%, respectively, the survey found. Only 12.1% of Asian non-Hispanic adults with diabetes used the drugs, which may reflect disparities in access or adoption of the therapies.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
UK cases of mosquito-borne chikungunya virus more than double
There has been a significant increase in the number of UK cases of a mosquito-borne virus that can cause sudden fever and joint pain and is normally only found in Africa and southern UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says more than 70 cases of the chikungunya virus were reported in the first six months of this year, more than double than in the same period last year – all of them linked to while rarely fatal, can leave people experiencing joint pain for UKHSA is warning travellers to take precautions against mosquito bites. In most cases, people recover fully within a couple of weeks, but for some, pain can persist for months or even years. In very rare cases it can be fatal. While the 73 infections seen in the UK in the first six months of this year is not a huge number, it is more than double the 27 cases over the same period last year. An outbreak of the virus is under way in the Indian Ocean region, and almost all of the infections were linked to travel in India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Chikungunya is spread by two types of mosquito, neither of which are present in the UK, so there is no risk on onward infection. But Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, says it is a warning to travellers to make sure they take precautions against mosquito bites."Chikungunya can be a nasty disease and we're seeing a worrying increase in cases among travellers returning to the UK. "It is essential to take precautions against mosquito bites when travelling. "Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering up your skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets can greatly reduce the risk. "Before you travel, check the Travel Health Pro Website for the latest advice on your destination. "A chikungunya vaccine may also be considered for those travelling to higher-risk regions." The same report also says the first ever UK cases of Oropouche virus, normally only found in Central and South America and the Caribbean, have also been detected in travellers returning from Brazil. This virus is predominantly spread by midge bites rather than mosquitos, with the main type of midge involved in transmission not found in Europe or the include high fever, chills, headache, joint pain and muscle UKHSA warns of a rise in Oropouche virus infections globally since 2024, and says pregnant travellers should take particular care following some concerns about the impact the virus can cause during pregnancy.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Comatose man's secret lovers join forces to keep him alive - after only finding out about each other when he suffered a brain bleed
A comatose man's secret lovers have joined forces to keep him alive, despite finding out about one another after he had suffered a bleed on the brain. The two women, who had been with their partner for over two decades, were unaware of each other's existence until the 60-year-old suffered a bleed to the brain last October. Due to the brain injury, he developed a prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDOC) - a term used for patients in a coma or a vegetative state (VS). After being admitted to ICU, he was later transferred to a rehabilitation unit under the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he remains. The Trust had requested permission from the court to withdraw his clinically assisted hydration and nutrition, which would lead to his eventual death. However, the man's lovers, referred to as JG and MB, argued against the proposal, saying the man would have wished to keep living despite his vegetative state. The pair are also 'his bedside each day, provide emotional and physical care for him' and are 'very well attuned to his physical needs', the court was told. The Official Solicitor, who was present to represent YD's interest, also argued the 60-year-old would feel 'his life now is dignified because of the love and care provided to him by his partners. 'He would wish to continue in this way until the life of his body was ended by a process such as a heart attack, further stroke, or infection,' they added. Mrs Justice Theis ruled it was in YD's best interest to continue to receive the clinically assisted treatment after considering the matter 'through a wide best interests lens'. The judge acknowledged how 'striking' it had been that even though the women had known YD for 20 and 24 years respectively, they had been unaware of one another. Yet, despite not having known one another until the incident, they were 'able to independently confirm many common features' about his wishes and beliefs, the judge said. 'In particular, regarding the depth of his interest in the spiritual world and his limitless curiosity about such matters that he held strong beliefs about. 'YD has long held beliefs about the healing power of the mind, body and soul, and to understand and, if required, push established boundaries based on his learning and understanding. 'From their descriptions, YD was a compassionate, private person who was a fiercely independent thinker about a wide range of issues, in particular regarding the spiritual world and healing. 'His long-standing interest in the healing power of the mind, spirit or soul would very likely be values that would inform his decision if he had capacity,' they added. 'The changes that have been observed he would regard as positive signs and that he had the potential to make further changes.' Mrs Justice Theis also added how the 60-year-old's beliefs in healing were 'likely to be relevant' and would have informed his decision if he had the capacity. They continued that it would have been a factor in his 'wishing' to continue to receive clinically assisted nutrition and hydration. Noting his participation in spiritual healing, she said: 'YD would also likely factor in, due to his long-standing beliefs in such matters, that others believe they are in communication with him.' The judge concluded while there would be burdens for YD in continuing treatment, both long-term and short-term, it would, 'most importantly', preserve his life. And even though his awareness is 'extremely limited' and that 'there may be little or no further improvement', they concluded: 'It is far from clear that in the circumstances YD is in, he would regard his continued existence as a burden.' 'There is a strong presumption in favour of preserving life which, in my judgment, having carefully evaluated the evidence in this unusual case, the Trust has not discharged.' The hospital's application was refused.
