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Lookup NU author(s): Sola AkinboladeORCiD, Jane NesworthyORCiD, Ross FairbairnORCiD, Nicole O'ConnorORCiD, Bethan HarrisORCiD, Professor Dawn CraigORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
IntroductionHorizon scanning provides timely intelligence about innovative health technologies in clinical development by commercial and non-commercial organizations. The horizon scanning for obesity medicines, carried out by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Innovation Observatory (IO), aimed to identify emerging obesity medicines to inform decision-making by national stakeholders and to shape future research.MethodsIn July 2023, the IO utilized horizon scanning methodology to identify medicines for preventing and treating obesity either primarily or as a comorbidity. The scans included medicines in preclinical and clinical development (phase I, I/II, II, II/III, III, or IV) sponsored by industry and non-industry for all population groups. Trial locations included Australia, Canada, the European Union, the UK, and the USA. Data were collected from the IO’s internal database (the Medicines Innovation Database), ClinicalTrials.gov, the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and the Citeline Pharmaprojects database. The data were systematically screened and analyzed.ResultsA total of 405 clinical trials were identified that evaluated 177 unique medicinal interventions. Among these, 47 unique preclinical interventions were identified from preclinical studies. A total of 256 (63%) trials were sponsored by industry, 139 (34%) by non-industry, and 10 (3%) by industry and non-industry jointly. The top five drug classes included anorectic or anti-obesity medicines (n=75; 42%), antihyperglycemics (n=24; 14%), anti-inflammatories (n=8; 5%), hepatoprotectants (n=7; 4%), and antihyperlipidemics (n=4; 2%). At the time of scanning, 48 (27%) medicines were unlicensed in the UK and 129 (73%) were not. Among the licensed medicines, 37 (77%) were off patent and 11 (23%) were on patent.ConclusionsThe IO’s horizon scanning process can identify and deliver timely intelligence to support decision-making and facilitate adoption of new medicines to target areas of unmet clinical need. The obesity medicines scan identified medicinal interventions in preclinical and clinical development and provides valuable insights into the trends and research gaps in preventing and treating obesity.
Author(s): Akinbolade S, Nesworthy J, Fairbairn R, O'Connor N, Hussain A, Harris B, Craig D
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: HTAi Annual Meeting
Year of Conference: 2024
Pages: S152-S152
Print publication date: 01/12/2024
Online publication date: 07/01/2025
Acceptance date: 07/01/2025
Date deposited: 10/10/2025
ISSN: 0266-4623
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462324003854
DOI: 10.1017/S0266462324003854
Series Title: International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
