US-based contract research organisation WCCT Global is ramping up its early-phase efforts in the field of obesity to address a “continually mounting” epidemic fuelled by unhealthy lifestyles and diets.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity has been on the rise for the last 20 years and continues to grow, WCCT notes.

In response, the company has created a database of more than 7,000 people who are stratified by body mass index (BMI) and can be classified as either overweight or obese.

These individuals have all expressed a desire to participate in clinical research for obesity, WCCT says.

The research areas coinciding with the characteristics of the WCCT database are weight loss (appetite suppressants); type 2 diabetes; hypertension; and cholesterol / triglyceride control.

Growing demand

Demand for safe and reliable treatments for these obesity-associated morbidities is “growing at a rapid rate,” the company points out. 

WCCT Global WCCT Global “looks forward to participating in the public health efforts in obesity to hopefully begin to control of this problem within the next decade”, commented Dr Mel Affrime, senior vice president, translational medicine.