U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is investing £279 million in the U.K. to explore the use of obesity drugs in curbing joblessness and tackling health challenges such as obesity. The investment includes a real-world study on how their weight-loss treatment, tirzepatide, impacts weight loss, diabetes prevention, and obesity-related complications. The study will also assess how these drugs affect participants’ employment status and sick days from work. The collaboration aims to inform the National Health Services’ treatment of obesity and build a healthier society and economy. The U.K. is facing high economic inactivity rates, with obesity being a significant contributing factor costing the NHS £11 billion a year. Health and Social Care Minister Wes Streeting highlighted the potential of obesity drugs in getting people back to work but emphasized that the NHS cannot always cover the cost of unhealthy lifestyles. While the use of obesity drugs is growing, some medical professionals have raised ethical concerns about linking healthcare treatments to economic outcomes. Additionally, Eli Lilly’s investment will support early-stage life sciences businesses in developing transformative medicines and technologies, with plans for additional investment in the U.K. in the future.
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