Thousands of Patients from Scotland’s Poorest Areas to Benefit from Landmark UK Taxpayer-Funded Obesity Study

Scottish patients placed at the heart of a multi-million pound study of weight-loss medicines

Thousands of people from across some of Scotland’s most deprived communities will be invited to take part in groundbreaking research, looking at the real-world impact of weight-loss medicines, thanks to backing from the UK government announced today (Saturday 1 November).   

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The Scotland CardioMetabolic Impact Study (SCoMIS), representing a collaborative approach between the UK and Scottish Governments, will involve 3,000 to 5,000 participants from across Scotland, with the UK government announcing an initial £650,000 in taxpayer-funding today to design the project.    

As a leading cause of long-term illness like heart disease and cancer, tackling obesity will help millions live longer healthier lives and reduce the pressure on our health services, potentially saving the NHS billions annually.  

Industry leaders Novo Nordisk and IQVIA, together with the Universities of Glasgow and support from clinical leaders at the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh, have been awarded £650,000 of taxpayer money to engage with patients and doctors to prepare for the full launch of the study in 2026. They will plan the involvement of 3,000 to 5,000 Scottish patients living with obesity to ensure the multi-million-pound study reaches and supports those who will benefit from these medicines the most, working through pharmacies and GP surgeries.   

The UK Health Innovation Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed visited Scotland yesterday to see those involved in designing the research, including Scottish academics from Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh, Novo Nordisk, and IQVIA, as well as the Chair of the Obesity Healthcare Goals Programme .The Minister discussed the progress in tackling the UK obesity crisis with those directly involved in planning the study.   

He also spoke about how, through the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the UK government will harness the globally leading role of the life sciences communities in the UK and Scotland to deliver long-term economic growth and a stronger, prevention-focused NHS.  

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The funding for the study was awarded following a competitive independent peer review process delivered by the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office.

UK Health Innovation Minister, Dr Zubir Ahmed, said:

UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:  

Novo Nordisk, IQVIA, and the academic and clinical leaders from the Universities of Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh will team up to work out how to make best use of AI driven digital technologies to support patient access, engagement and data collection to determine the bold and innovative approach of the multi-million-pound full study.   

The study will uncover the impacts of an incretin-based weight loss medicine (GLP-1), from spotting weight change patterns to detecting and preventing obesity-related complications.

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These findings will boost our knowledge of the safety and effectiveness, and ultimately better placed for a wider rollout in the UK and beyond. If successful, these findings will guide NHS commissioning and BMI thresholds, so we can harness the full benefits of incretin-based treatments in our efforts to improve long-term health outcomes and reduce inequalities.  

Incretin-based medicines copy or boost the effects of natural hormones called incretins, which control blood sugar levels. They act on areas of the brain which impact hunger and appetite and can slow down how fast the stomach empties. This may help people living with obesity regulate their eating habits.  

The landmark study puts Scotland at the heart of UK government’s Obesity Healthcare Goals programme, which is aiming to transform the lives of the 1 in 3 Britons affected by obesity and position the UK as a global frontrunner for cutting-edge innovation and research into obesity.

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Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: 

Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Jenni Minto, said: 

Lead of the SCoMIS consortium and Professor of CardioMetabolic Health at the University of Glasgow, Jason Gill said:  

Senior Vice President North Europe and UK GM for IQVIA Tim Sheppard, said:  

UK General Manager for Novo Nordisk, Sebnem Avsar Tuna, said:   

Chair of UK Obesity Healthcare Goals Programme, Professor Naveed Sattar, said:  

Notes to Editors

Further taxpayer funding for the entire project will be available up to 2029/2030, subject to approvals.  

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. IQVIA’s portfolio of solutions are powered by IQVIA Connected Intelligence™ to deliver actionable insights and services built on high-quality health data, Healthcare-grade AI®, advanced analytics, the latest technologies and extensive domain expertise. IQVIA is committed to using AI responsibly, with AI-powered capabilities built on best-in-class approaches to privacy, regulatory compliance and patient safety, and delivering AI to the high standards of trust, scalability and precision demanded by the industry. With approximately 90,000 employees in over 100 countries, including experts in healthcare, life sciences, data science, technology and operational excellence, IQVIA is dedicated to accelerating the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. 

IQVIA is a global leader in protecting individual patient privacy. The company uses a wide variety of privacy-enhancing technologies and safeguards to protect individual privacy while generating and analysing information on a scale that helps healthcare stakeholders identify disease patterns and correlate with the precise treatment path and therapy needed for better outcomes. IQVIA’s insights and execution capabilities help biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers, government agencies, payers and other healthcare stakeholders tap into a deeper understanding of diseases, human behaviours and scientific advances, to advance their path toward cures. To learn more, visit www.iqvia.com.  

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 78,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit www.novonordisk.co.uk.