The Leading Life Science Podcast
Welcome to the Leading Life Science Podcast. I am your host Leigh Fell, CEO and founder of clinical development company Caritas Science Solutions and reader of all things wellbeing and performance based science.
In this podcast I speak to change makers and thought leaders from all different disciplines, in life sciences, in wellbeing, from Scotland and from further afield, all of whom are making a difference in developing our collective and whole person health.
We talk leadership, the science of leadership, leading science, life science and the science of life.
Whether your interests are pharmaceuticals, complimentary therapies, sports, nutrition or simply taking charge of your own health, we talk about it all and introduce you to some of the most innovative and ground breaking minds in our community.
The Leading Life Science Podcast
S3. Ep002 Some thoughts on Ozempic
Transcript:
When I was at university, we were told, “Whoever invents a weight loss drug will make billions.” And looking at what Ozempic has done for Novo Nordisk’s share price over the past couple of years, I think we can all agree—that prediction turned out to be spot on. It took a lot longer than I expected, but here we are. The era of weight loss drugs is officially upon us.
But here’s what’s really been on my mind.
These GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic, have something in common with psychedelic drugs—an area I’ve also been deeply involved in recently. What they share is this: Both classes of drugs are most effective when paired with coaching.
Psychedelics? They’re showing incredible promise in mental health, but they work best alongside psychotherapy. GLP-1 agonists? They’re being prescribed with dietary and exercise advice to help people make sustainable changes.
It’s made me wonder: Are we finally entering an era where coaching and mindset are seen as crucial parts of a treatment plan—just as important as the drug itself?
Now, here’s the thing. In drug development, the current gold standard is to run clinical trials that strip out the placebo effect—the power of the mind. But what if, instead of ruling it out, we embraced it?
Imagine adding a third arm to clinical trials. One that still measures the drug’s mechanism alone but also actively explores how coaching and mindset can amplify the drug’s effects. That’s exactly the kind of conversation we’ve been having at Caritas from the start.
The real question is: Can we bring this approach into everyday healthcare? Can we build systems that treat the whole person—where mindset, coaching, and the power of the mind are integrated into the regime?
What do you think? Are we ready for this shift in healthcare? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
