Abu Dhabi research collaboration examines precision nutrition for GLP-1 patients
M42's clinical research arm and 10XREVIV join forces to study how tailored nutritional support can enhance wellbeing for patients receiving weight management therapies.
The growing prevalence of GLP-1 therapies for weight management has prompted a timely clinical examination into how precision nutrition might support patients navigating treatment. M42’s Insights Research Organisation and Solutions (IROS) and 10XREVIV have joined forces to evaluate whether personalised nutritional guidance can help address the particular challenges these patients face.
GLP-1 therapies, increasingly used for weight management, can reduce appetite and food intake, sometimes accompanied by gastrointestinal effects that complicate patients’ ability to maintain adequate nutrition. A 2025 study of more than 460,000 adults prescribed these medications found that 22.4 per cent recorded newly identified nutritional deficiency or related complications within twelve months. The clinical collaboration aims to generate evidence that could reshape how patients are supported throughout their weight management journey.
The planned study will compare IROS’s clinical research expertise with 10XREVIV’s precision nutrition system against standard care alone, examining not only nutritional status and body composition but also patient-reported outcomes including fatigue, quality of life and treatment adherence. This broader assessment reflects a growing recognition that successful weight management extends well beyond changes to body weight alone.
David Kavanagh, General Manager of Omics at M42, described the collaboration as emblematic of IROS’s role in bringing emerging health innovations into rigorous clinical research. “We provide the study design, execution and oversight expertise needed to turn promising concepts into structured clinical evaluations and generate evidence that can guide product development and clinical decisions,” he noted, adding that the work has potential to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position in the clinical research ecosystem.
Sarah Lomas, CEO of REVIV Global and Co-Founder of 10XREVIV, reflected on the partnership’s significance for advancing precision nutrition. “This study is an important step in building the clinical evidence behind our work,” she said, emphasising how the collaboration addresses a genuine clinical need: the difficulty of meeting nutritional requirements when reduced food intake accompanies treatment.
The research also aligns with joint guidance from leading American nutrition, lifestyle medicine and obesity organisations, which recommend nutritional assessment, deficiency prevention, adequate protein intake and resistance training for GLP-1 patients. Subject to final study design and outcomes, the findings could inform future approaches to nutritional support during GLP-1 treatment across the UAE and internationally.
What it means for Abu Dhabi
This clinical study underscores Abu Dhabi’s expanding role as a precision health research hub, demonstrating how the emirate’s institutions are addressing emerging healthcare needs through rigorous scientific inquiry. IROS’s involvement reflects the calibre of contract research capabilities now resident in Abu Dhabi, capable of attracting partnerships with innovative global health companies seeking to validate their solutions through gold-standard clinical evidence.
The research also speaks to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing health outcomes for its diverse population, particularly as GLP-1 therapies become more prevalent in the region’s healthcare landscape. By generating locally conducted evidence on how best to support patients receiving these medications, the study contributes to a growing body of knowledge that could improve care quality and patient wellbeing across the UAE and beyond.
Source: WAM