Lilly and UK Government Launch £85m Obesity Care Innovation Programme

Eli Lilly and Company has joined forces with the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to launch an £85 million programme aimed at developing innovative models of care for obesity. Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the initiative will run a UK-wide competition inviting NHS organisations to propose novel approaches to obesity management, with selected projects receiving pilot funding.

The programme seeks to improve support for people living with obesity while aligning with the Government’s vision for an ‘NHS fit for the future’. Funding includes up to £50 million from DSIT and up to £35 million from Lilly, with at least £10 million earmarked for projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Models will be assessed for clinical alignment, resource efficiency, accessibility, and scalability.

With obesity costing the UK economy an estimated £74 billion annually, this collaboration aims to generate evidence for effective, scalable care, potentially transforming health outcomes and reducing the burden on the NHS.