CRDC UK Network supports Kailera Therapeutics to bring its first studies to the UK
21 research centres across the UK will support three flagship obesity studies for Kailera Therapeutics supported by the CRDC UK Network. The participating centres are predominately Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) across primary and secondary care, alongside National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network partners, and NHS organisations, ensuring broad national coverage and capacity for large‑scale commercial study delivery.
The clinical team at NIHR CRDC: Leicestershire and Northamptonshire who randomised the first participant in Europe into one of the studies.
Kailera Therapeutics is developing a differentiated portfolio of investigational clinical‑stage injectable and oral therapies for obesity. These studies mark the company’s first clinical research in the UK and reflect its rapid growth since its launch in 2024 as an emerging leader in metabolic therapeutics.
The CRDC UK Network is supporting the implementation of these phase 3 studies of an investigational medicine called ribupatide (KAI‑9531), each involving slightly different patient cohorts, following initial discussions between Professor Dame Melanie Davies, Director of the CRDC UK Network and the NIHR CRDC: Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow, and the Kailera team at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in 2025.
The CRDC UK Network coordinated national site identification to ensure efficient, high‑quality mobilisation of the studies across the UK. The NIHR CRDC: Leicestershire and Northamptonshire is acting as the national lead site, guiding coordinated UK set‑up and overseeing the National Contract Value Review (NCVR) process to support consistent, streamlined costing and contracting for all participating NHS organisations.
The studies are now open and recruiting across the UK, with participating sites becoming the first in Europe to open and screen participants. The European Investigator Meeting took place in June, and attendees included clinical directors and other Principal Investigators and staff from CRDCs across the CRDC UK Network, providing an opportunity to share insights and strengthen collaboration across participating sites. Since opening, the NIHR CRDC: Leicestershire and Northamptonshire has gone on to randomise the first participant in Europe into the study.
These studies are being conducted in the UK to explore the therapeutic potential of this investigational medicine in the treatment of obesity. Across the UK, obesity remains a significant and growing health challenge. One in four UK adults is living with obesity, reflecting the scale of demand for new treatment options.
The CRDC UK Network brings together 35 centres across primary, secondary and specialist care to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in commercial clinical research. Supported by the NIHR in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry, the Network provides a coordinated UK-wide infrastructure offering fast, reliable and consistent trial delivery at scale. It gives industry access to high-performing research sites and supports inclusive, decentralised trials, enabling more people from more communities to take part in research across the NHS.
Jenny Crooks, CRDC UK Network Operations Director, said: “Supporting Kailera to bring their first UK studies into the UK reflects exactly what the CRDC UK Network was created to achieve. By providing coordinated national infrastructure, we make it easier and faster for life sciences companies to run high‑quality commercial research at scale. These studies will benefit from access to experienced research centres across the UK, helping ensure inclusive participation and efficient delivery for the sponsor, the NHS and, most importantly, participants.”
Marianne Camargo, MD, VP of Clinical Development at Kailera added: “We’re thrilled to partner with the CRDC UK Network to expand our KaiNETIC program across the UK. Executing our global Phase 3 program is critical to advancing our mission to deliver differentiated therapies with the potential to meaningfully improve the lives of people around the world living with obesity. We are grateful to the CRDC UK Network for their support.”
Patients who choose to participate in this clinical trial will be provided with comprehensive information about the potential risks associated with the clinical study and the investigational medicine. To find out more about delivering research through the CRDCs, or expanding commercial research into primary care, please contact the CRDC UK Network via the online form or email uhl-tr.crdcuk@nhs.net.
Declaration of Interests: Professor Naveed provides advisory services to Kailera Therapeutics on their clinical development program.