ICON Announces Results from Survey on Obesity-related Clinical Research
Survey of over 100 industry professionals measured opinions on future research within the therapeutic area of obesity treatment.
ICON has announced the results of a survey including responses from over 100 industry professionals on obesity-related clinical research, according to a company press release.1
The majority of respondents agreed that the future of obesity clinical research lies within designing trials that are designed to measure multiple outcomes. Obesity is closely related to comorbidities such as diabetes, steatosis (fatty liver), and cardiovascular disease, making the therapeutic area a viable candidate for the research of combination therapies, according to the survey. More than half of the respondents felt combination therapies will prove to be the future of obesity research.
According to Trust for America’s Health, 41.9% of adults in the United States have obesity. Along with adults, rates among children and adolescents have increased with nearly 20% of US children ages 2 to 19 years having obesity.2
In the press release, Simon Bruce, VP of internal medicine at ICON said, “The focus on combination therapies cited by respondents is, in our view, indicative of the potential to make significant advancements in obesity clinical research in the coming years. There is more to examine on the implications of obesity as a risk factor across the disease spectrum and how it may impact treatment, drug development and clinical trials for obesity. We are seeing a growing interest in the simultaneous development of assets. This is something we are actively exploring at ICON in order to improve efficiencies, and to support more treatments to better meet the needs of the current population.”
While two-thirds of survey respondents were confident in their pipeline for obesity treatments in the current market, there was acknowledgement of challenges in the space. Some of the most notable challenges they are seeing in clinical studies include current lack of long-term follow-up studies, lack of appropriate obesity-specific trial design, and difficulty in diverse patient recruitment.
In the press release, Jack Martin, senior director, cardiovascular therapeutics at ICON, commented on the recent advances in the development of obesity-related treatments: “It has shone a light on the future potential of obesity treatment. The findings in this survey are constructive in identifying areas that we can focus on to continue these advancements. What’s clear is that taking a holistic view of the disease and its related co-morbidities—from diabetes to MASH and cardiac conditions—is a hugely important consideration for the clinical trial design of potential new treatments.”
References
- New ICON Survey Highlights Importance of Combination Therapies in Future Obesity Treatment. News release. January 24, 2024. Accessed January 25, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240124995130/en/New-ICON-Survey-Highlights-Importance-of-Combination-Therapies-in-Future-Obesity-Treatment?_gl=1*s4b8qr*_ga*OTA5ODMxNDIuMTcwNjA5NDIxNA..*_ga_ZQWF70T3FK*MTcwNjA5NzY0NS4yLjEuMTcwNjA5NzY0Ni41OS4wLjA.
- State of Obesity 2023: Better Policies for a Healthier America. September 21, 2023. Accessed January 25, 2024. https://www.tfah.org/report-details/state-of-obesity-2023/#:~:text=Nationally%2C%2041.9%20percent%20of%20adults,in%20urban%20and%20suburban%20areas.
Behind the Buzz: Why Clinical Research Leaders Flock to SCOPE Summit
February 7th 2025In this episode, we meet with Micah Lieberman, Executive Conference Director for SCOPE Summit (Summit for Clinical Ops Executives) at Cambridge Innovation Institute. We will dive deep into the critical role of collaboration within the clinical research ecosystem. How do we bring together diverse stakeholders—sponsors, CROs, clinical trial tech innovators, suppliers, patients, sites, advocacy organizations, investors, and non-profits—to share best practices in trial design, program planning, innovation, and clinical operations? We’ll explore why it’s vital for thought leaders to step beyond their own organizations and learn from others, exchanging ideas that drive advancements in clinical research. Additionally, we’ll discuss the pivotal role of scientific conferences like SCOPE Summit in fostering these essential connections and collaborations, helping shape the future of clinical trials. Join us as we uncover how collective wisdom and cross-industry partnerships are transforming the landscape of clinical research.
Reaching Diverse Patient Populations With Personalized Treatment Methods
January 20th 2025Daejin Abidoye, head of solid tumors, oncology development, AbbVie, discusses a number of topics around diversity in clinical research including industry’s greatest challenges in reaching diverse patient populations, personalized treatment methods, recruitment strategies, and more.
POETYK PsA-2 Trial Shows Efficacy of Sotyktu as an Oral Therapy for Psoriatic Arthritis
March 11th 2025Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) demonstrated significant efficacy in improving psoriatic arthritis symptoms compared to placebo in the Phase III POETYK PsA-2 trial, with a well-tolerated safety profile.
