Greater Manchester to support landmark Government collaboration with world’s largest pharmaceutical company

Health Innovation Manchester and The University of Manchester has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) to initiate a five-year real-world evidence study (SURMOUNT-REAL UK) to support the Government’s investment ambition.

At the UK’s International Investment Summit, the Government announced that the 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.

The ‘five-year real-world evidence study’ will be run by Health Innovation Manchester and pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), subject to approval. It will examine ‘the real-world effectiveness of tirzepatide in weight loss, diabetes prevention, and prevention of obesity-related complications for adults with obesity.

The evidence generated will seek to increase the global evidence base on the long-term impacts of weight loss medicines and potentially inform the UK’s care pathway approach to the treatment of obesity. Significantly, the five-year study will also aim to collect data on healthcare resource utilisation, health-related quality of life and changes in participants’ employment status and sick days from work.

Health Innovation Manchester has worked with the University of Manchester and local digital trials company NorthWest EHealth to develop the study approach.

Greater Manchester has been chosen because of its strengths in the life sciences sector, it’s exemplar of healthcare data and leading R&D facilities in this area.

Mayor of Greater Manchester and GM Business Board Member, Andy Burnham, said “Greater Manchester is worldrenowned 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.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting 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.”

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The UK’s life sciences sector is at the forefront of pioneering and life-saving research. This ground-breaking collaboration is proof that this sector is held in high esteem internationally and is 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.”

Professor Rachel Batterham, Senior Vice President for International Medical Affairs at Lilly, said: “At Lilly, we are deeply committed to improving lives by partnering across the health system to address complex health challenges like obesity. We’re delighted to partner with Health Innovation Manchester on our plans for the SURMOUNT-REAL UK study. This collaboration will add to the evidence base on the real world impact of obesity treatments on the health of people with obesity, and will explore a broad range of outcomes including health-related quality of life and impact on individuals’ employment status.”

Martin Rutter, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine, University of Manchester, and principal investigator for the Greater Manchester study, said: “This five-year real-world study aims to demonstrate the long-term efficacy and safety profile of tirzepatide in a primary care setting compared to usual care. It will specifically quantify the medicine’s long-term effects on obesity, diabetes incidence, and obesity-related complications, as well as its impacts on employment and health economic outcomes.” 

 Ben Bridgewater, CEO at Health Innovation Manchester, commented: “Greater Manchester (GM) is well placed to deliver novel trials and real-world evidence studies to develop a deeper understanding of the impact that industry-led innovation can have on population health. Through this landmark partnership with Lilly we will show how a medicine impacts people’s long-term health outcomes. This will help us understand its effects people with obesity in GM as well as inform national strategies and pave the way for further research and development in this critical area.”

Mark Britnell, Chair of Health Innovation Manchester, said: “Owing to our strengths in life sciences, academia and digital, Greater Manchester has all the ingredients to be truly world-leading in health innovation. This is demonstrated through our partnership with Lilly, which will help to propel our sector strengths even further forward for the benefit of local patients.”

Mark Fisher, CEO of the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, said: “Around 600,000 adults in Greater Manchester live with obesity, many of whom also suffer with other obesity-related illnesses which reduces their quality of life and puts additional pressure on the health and care system. Working collaboratively with industry to solve these problems is paramount, and I am delighted to support the study coming to the Greater Manchester integrated care system.”