Weight loss drugs for the unemployed—how will the government’s new trial work?
Ministers want to examine the impact of the weight loss drug tirzepatide on people’s health outcomes and employment status. Elisabeth Mahase looks at how the study will work A new partnership between the government and the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly1 will trial “innovative approaches to treating obesity as part of a rounded package of care,” the government has said. A key part of this collaboration will involve a five year, real world trial called Surmount-Real UK to evaluate the effectiveness of the weight loss drug tirzepatide—a glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) that’s similar to semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic). The study will look at its impact on weight loss, the prevention of obesity related complications, health related quality of life, changes in participants employment status, and how many sick days participants take from work. This trial will be carried out in partnership with Health Innovation Manchester and the University of Manchester. Principal invest