Boots will run an obesity drug trial for a new type 2 diabetes medicine at selected stores in England, the chain has revealed.
Boots has partnered with Civia Health to set up clinical research sites at four stores in Nottingham, Brighton, Peterborough and Birmingham, connecting communities to local research opportunities for obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.
Marc Donovan is director of healthcare development at Boots.
He said: “Clinical research plays a vital role in the development of new treatments and therapies, and we are proud to support increased clinical research participation to drive better health outcomes for all.”
The company said this is the first time dedicated clinical research units have been set up in high street pharmacies, enabling people to take part in convenient locations.
Boots said the first study to be conducted by Civia Health at its stores is a Phase 3 trial, a late-stage study that tests safety and effectiveness before approval, focused on a new obesity and type 2 diabetes medicine.
Customers at Boots stores will be able to join Civia Health’s longitudinal health registry, Thrive, which tracks participants’ health over time, and access free health screenings.
The screenings will include measurements such as height, weight, blood pressure and blood tests to help people understand their health and identify studies for which they may be eligible.
Civia will deploy its clinical teams, technology and operational standards to the participating Boots stores to screen and enrol participants, bringing research capability to the high street and providing convenient locations for study appointments.
As part of the partnership, Boots will also provide details of research opportunities to its customers to support recruitment.
Mark Campbell, chief executive of Civia Health, said: “For too long, clinical research sites have been in out-of-town and hard-to-find locations that can feel unfamiliar.
“Instead of relying on the small number of people who actively seek out studies, we’re bringing research to a broader, more diverse group – people who might benefit but would never have found us otherwise.”
