Eli Lilly’s Zepbound to undergo first-of-its-kind study on economic impact

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) has partnered with the British government to launch a first-of-its-kind real-world study to evaluate the economic effects of the company’s popular weight loss therapy, tirzepatide, branded as Zepbound.

Writing for the U.K.’s The Telegraph newspaper, Secretary of State for Health & Social Care Wes Streeting announced the five-year real-world study on Monday.

It aims to collect first real-world data on the effects of tirzepatide on economy-related non-clinical outcomes such as unemployment level, productivity, and public spending on healthcare.

“For many people, these weight-loss jabs will be life-changing, help them get back to work, and ease the demands on our NHS,” Streeting said, referring to tirzepatide as well as semaglutide, a rival injectable marketed by Novo Nordisk (NVO) for weight loss.

“The long-term benefits of these drugs could be monumental in our approach to tackling obesity,” he added.

The trial, a partnership between Health Innovation Manchester and Lilly (NYSE:LLY), was announced in conjunction with a £280M investment from the U.S. pharma giant in the U.K.