Pharmaceutical suppliers to play central role in delivery of NHS 10-year plan
Published on 29th September 2025
A focus on clinical trials and weight-loss medication is a significant opportunity for pharmaceutical manufacturers
The long-awaited 10-year national healthcare plan unveiled by the government in July looks to address its blunt conclusion last year that "the NHS is broken". The flagship policy to fix the NHS will inform policy decisions for years to come – and pharmaceutical manufacturers will be among the range of private sector suppliers that will be crucial for delivering the NHS plan.
Quicker clinical trials
The government intends to increase the number of clinical trials to benefit both patients and the economy in the UK. In recognition of the country falling behind others as a destination for clinical trials, the government seeks to make the UK more attractive to clinical trial sponsors by reducing set up times from around 250 days to 150 days by March 2026.
By introducing the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, the government has already acted on the recommendations made by Lord O'Shaughnessy in his 2023 review. This identified issues with the regulatory system that were causing delays and avoidable costs and therefore inhibiting setting up clinical trials in the UK.
The 2024 regulations aim to align regulatory requirements with the risk level of the clinical trial, streamline approval processes, shorten overall timeframes for approvals and align processes to international standards. Under the plan, the government will publish scorecards for NHS progress on clinical trial performance, make it easier for the public to take part in clinical trials and standardise contracts.
Weight-loss medicine industry partners
The plan proposes close work with weight-loss medicine industry partners to test new care models. To tackle the UK's "obesity epidemic", the NHS will harness recent breakthroughs in weight-loss medication by establishing relationships with industry partners to test innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments. This may include digital only models, delivery in local communities and models tailored for rural locations.
Further collaborations will be sought with medicine suppliers and digital weight management services to offer fast and equitable access to weight management treatment through the NHS. This will include partnering with the industry to provide new treatments on a "pay for impact on health" outcomes basis (that is, not simply a reduction in weight, but a reduction in weight-related health conditions such as heart attacks and diabetes).
Single national formulary
The government plans to simplify the process of getting new medications to patients by moving to a single national formulary (SNF) for medicines within the next two years. A new formulary oversight board, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), will sequence products based on clinical and cost effectiveness. Local prescribers will be encouraged to use highly ranked products in the SNF while retaining clinical autonomy in line with NICE guidance. The government aims to working closely with industry to implement this initiative.
The industry has broadly welcomed the government's focus on transforming patient lives through initiatives that recognise the value of conducting research in the UK. However, there have been calls for it to do more to support investment in innovative medicines.
Companies will be assessing the plan and related regulatory reform to identify where streamlined processes and initiatives relating to pharmaceutical products present opportunities to see quicker returns on investment.
We also expect companies to assess the value in opportunities presented by the UK under the plan, whether through focus on weight loss medicine, engaging with NICE over the SNF or conducting clinical trials in partnership with the NHS.
Osborne Clarke comment
The plan presents potentially significant opportunities for pharmaceutical suppliers, particularly in the areas of clinical trials and weight loss medication. The government aims to make the UK more attractive for clinical trials by reducing set-up times and streamlining approval processes. The introduction of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 is a pivotal step in aligning regulatory requirements with international standards and expediting trial approvals.
Additionally, the plan's focus on tackling obesity through innovative weight-loss medication models offers pharmaceutical companies the chance to collaborate with the NHS on new delivery methods. These partnerships will aim to provide equitable access to weight management treatments and focus on health outcomes beyond weight reduction.
The move towards an SNF for medicines will hopefully further simplify the process of getting new medications to patients, with NICE playing a crucial role in sequencing products based on clinical and cost effectiveness.
Pharmaceutical companies will be keen to explore these opportunities to achieve quicker returns on investment and contribute to transforming patient lives through innovative treatments.
This is the fourth Insight in our series on the NHS 10-year plan that has looked at the role of the private sector, digital health suppliers and product manufacturers, and the series will conclude with a focus on healthcare providers.
