UK's world leading life sciences sector will receive a £279
million boost to tackle significant health challenges, with an
intent expressed by Lilly, the world's largest pharmaceutical
company, to invest in the UK, as part of a collaborative
partnership with UK Government, announced at the International
Investment Summit today (Monday 14 October).
Plans to form a new collaboration through a memorandum of
understanding will see the pharmaceutical giant backing UK's
brightest and best life sciences talent with the planned launch
of the first ‘Lilly Gateway Labs' innovation accelerator in
Europe. This facility will support early-stage life sciences
businesses to develop transformative medicines by providing lab
space, mentorship, and potential financial backing to rocket
future growth in the sector.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
“For all the challenges facing the health of our nation, we have
two huge advantages: some of the world's leading scientific
minds, and a National Health Service with enormous potential. If
we can combine the two, patients in this country can reap the
rewards of the revolution in medical science unfolding before our
eyes.
“This announcement helps the UK take its place as a
world leader in life sciences and brings life-changing treatments
closer to being a reality for NHS patients. Partnerships like
this are key to building a healthier society, healthier economy,
and making the NHS fit for the future.”
Lilly's Gateway Lab plans build on the 300,000 jobs the
life sciences sector already supports nationwide. The facility
will be the first announced anywhere in Europe, cementing the UK
as a world leader in healthcare.
Science and Technology Secretary said:
“The UK's life sciences sector is at the forefront of pioneering
and life-saving research.
“This groundbreaking collaboration is proof that this sector is
held in high esteem internationally and driving investment into
the UK.
“Investments like this drive forward work that will boost our
health and ultimately save lives.
“But they also fire up our economy, creating the jobs,
opportunity and growth we need to invest further in health and to
push up living standards.”
David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly & Company
said:
“We welcome this opportunity to partner with the UK Government on
tackling and preventing disease, and accelerating innovation to
advance care delivery models. Today's announcement is an
important milestone, and we are pleased to reinforce Lilly's
commitment to improving health for people living with obesity and
its serious consequences.”
Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer and a
major contributor to ill-health that prevents people from
participating fully in work. This collaboration will bring
together treatments and technologies developed by the life
sciences sector and the health system seeking to demonstrate
improved long-term health outcomes for those living with
obesity.
The collaboration with Lilly aims to set the stage for
Government to work with industry to trial innovative
approaches to treating obesity as part of a rounded package of
care.
With obesity costing the UK health service more than £11 billion
each year, action to tackle the condition is urgently needed.
Backing the UK life sciences sector to understand obesity
further, alongside introducing measures to prevent obesity in the
first place such as restrictions on junk food advertising, will
help ease pressure on the NHS.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said:
“Obesity is one of the biggest public health issues we face, and
we know weight loss drugs will be a game-changer, alongside
earlier prevention strategies, in supporting many more people to
lose weight and reduce their risk of killer conditions like
diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
"Today's momentous agreement shows the NHS is uniquely
well-placed globally not just to bring effective new treatments
to those who would benefit most, but also to support science,
research, jobs and economic growth across the country. We now
have an important chance to gain a better understanding of the
benefits of weight management interventions for patients, and how
best to deliver them over the next few years.”
Today's collaboration is a demonstration of the £108 billion life
sciences sector's value to the UK economy, in both improving
public health and keeping the UK at the forefront of
scientific progress.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy , said:
“Greater Manchester is world-renowned as a hub for innovation in
health and life sciences. The results of the trial announced
today could have a far-reaching impact on how we treat obesity
globally, and our city-region is ready to make a significant
contribution through our outstanding health data assets, R&D
expertise, and the strong partnerships between industry,
universities and public sector organisations. The International
Investment Summit will provide an opportunity to showcase our
local strengths in health innovation to an audience of global
business leaders and investors. This partnership could be the
first of many and give Greater Manchester residents access to
other innovative treatments.”
Driving economic growth to improve the lives of hardworking
British people is this Government's number one mission. The life
sciences sector – which drove £800 million in foreign direct
investment into the UK in 2023 – sits at the heart of these
plans.
ENDS
Notes for editors
About the Obesity Healthcare Goals Programme
· The Obesity Healthcare
Goals Programme, formerly known as the Obesity Mission, was
announced in November 2022, and is being delivered by the Office
for Life Sciences (OLS) alongside the Dementia, Mental Health,
Cancer and Addiction Healthcare Goals.
