Targeted therapy has officially entered the first-line standard of care for a high-risk molecular subset of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Pfizer Inc. announced that the U.S. FDA granted full approval to BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) in combination with ERBITUX (cetuximab) and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for adults with BRAF V600E–mutant metastatic colorectal cancer. This marks the first fully approved biomarker-driven targeted regimen in the first-line setting for this aggressive CRC subtype. What Changed: From Accelerated to Full Approval The combination previously received accelerated approval in December 2024 based on response rate data. Full approval is supported by Phase 3 results from the BREAKWATER trial,…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Virtual multidisciplinary GI care is moving from pilot data to scaled performance metrics. Oshi Health released its 2025 Impact Report, presenting expanded real-world outcomes across its national patient population and matched claims analyses. The company reports sustained improvements in symptom control, preventive care compliance, and healthcare cost reduction—positioning its virtual-first GI model as a population-level intervention rather than a niche telehealth solution. Clinical Outcomes at Scale Across nationwide analyses through year-end 2025: Subpopulation findings presented at ACG 2025 showed similar consistency: Patient satisfaction reached 97–100% across cohorts
Artificial intelligence in colonoscopy is moving beyond detection. Medtronic has announced CE Mark approval for ColonPRO™, the fourth-generation software powering its GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy system, marking a significant evolution from polyp detection toward full procedural intelligence. Originally introduced in 2019 as the first AI system to receive both CE Mark and FDA clearance for colorectal polyp detection, GI Genius established itself as a leader in computer-aided detection (CADe). With ColonPRO™, Medtronic is broadening its AI footprint across detection, characterization, measurement, and quality optimization.
The obesity treatment landscape continues to diversify beyond GLP-1 drugs and bariatric surgery. Allurion Technologies has received FDA premarket approval (PMA) for its Allurion Gastric Balloon System, marking a significant regulatory milestone for non-surgical, device-based obesity care in the U.S. The approval positions the company to compete in a rapidly evolving market increasingly defined by minimally invasive, tech-enabled solutions. What Makes It Different? Unlike traditional gastric balloons that require endoscopic placement and removal, the Allurion Smart Capsule is: The company describes the system as an AI-powered solution for weight loss, aiming to deliver four months of therapy from a single…
For over a century, the physician’s toolkit has looked remarkably similar: a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, clinical judgment, and referrals to centralized hospital-based diagnostics. Imaging required a radiology department. ECGs meant bulky machines. Ultrasound belonged in specialized rooms. Advanced diagnostics were physically—and operationally—separate from primary care. That model is rapidly changing. In the third decade of the 21st century, portable, AI-enabled, smartphone-connected medical devices have matured to the point where physicians can carry an entire diagnostic suite in a backpack. From digital stethoscopes with automated murmur detection to wallet-sized ECGs and handheld ultrasound systems benchmarked against cart-based machines, the…
As AI tools become embedded in clinical workflows—from note drafting to radiology reads—early evidence suggests that over-reliance may erode clinical skills, a phenomenon known as de-skilling. A 2025 study in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that endoscopists who routinely used AI-assisted adenoma detection experienced a decline in detection rates (29% to 22%) when AI was removed. The finding suggests sustained AI exposure may weaken independent diagnostic performance. Cognitive psychology research points to cognitive off-loading as a likely mechanism: when clinicians passively accept AI outputs, analytic reasoning declines. This risk appears especially pronounced among less experienced clinicians. Studies in radiology…
A large Swedish randomized trial (SCREESCO), published in Nature Medicine, evaluated over 278,000 60-year-olds assigned to: Unlike most prior trials, SCREESCO included a true usual-care control arm, allowing direct comparison of real-world screening impact. Key Findings Participants will be followed through 2030 to determine mortality impact.
The Wall Street Journal highlights the development of a wearable gas-sensing device—nicknamed the “Fitbit for farts”—designed to continuously monitor intestinal gas patterns. Worn in underwear, the battery-powered sensor tracks flatus events in real time using miniaturized electronics and edge computing, reflecting broader trends in continuous biometric monitoring. Researchers hope the technology could do for gastroenterology what wearables like the Apple Watch did for cardiology: generate longitudinal, real-world physiologic data outside the clinic. By analyzing gas patterns over time, the device could potentially help diagnose and manage conditions such as IBS and other functional GI disorders, shifting care from episodic reporting…
Dr. Supriya Rao and Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam interview Daniel Tal Mor, co-founder and CEO of Lumen, a health technology company focused on metabolic measurement. Lumen’s handheld device analyzes a breath sample to estimate whether the body is primarily using carbohydrates or fats for fuel and pairs those measurements with app-based guidance designed to support nutrition.
Gastroenterology may be on the verge of shifting from episodic, flare-driven care to continuous, AI-enabled chronic disease management. According to GI leaders interviewed by Becker’s, AI-powered remote monitoring—particularly in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—could use patient-reported symptoms and biomarker data (e.g., fecal calprotectin) to predict flares, guide treatment escalation, and prioritize care in real time.