Functional beverages are redefining the wellness market, with brands like Poppi and Olipop at the forefront of a $10 billion gut health movement. These drinks—marketed as prebiotic sodas—promise benefits like better digestion and improved energy, though scientific backing remains sparse. Poppi uses minimal apple cider vinegar and relies heavily on vibrant branding and celebrity endorsements to appeal to wellness-conscious consumers. Olipop takes a more clinical tone, offering 9g of fiber and botanical extracts, yet still operates in a gray zone when it comes to health claims.
Author: Abhay Panchal
In a significant industry move, major U.S. insurers—including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, CVS Health, and Humana—have voluntarily pledged to streamline the prior authorization (PA) process. Announced by AHIP, the reforms aim to reduce administrative burdens and improve timely access to care. Six key commitments include:
In a timely commentary, Dr. Jane Zhu explores the evolving impact of private equity (PE) ownership in gastroenterology—a specialty now seeing over 1 in 8 practices under PE control. The piece reflects on new findings by Arnold et al., who examined colonoscopy pricing and quality following PE acquisitions in commercially insured settings. Key insights: Utilization Increases: PE-acquired practices saw more colonoscopies per physician and more unique patients—raising the question of whether PE drives patient volume or rides pre-existing trends. Pricing Trends: PE ownership was associated with a 4.5% increase in colonoscopy prices—rising to 6.7% in markets with higher PE penetration.…
A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology confirms the real-world impact of ColoSense®, Geneoscopy’s FDA-approved multitarget stool RNA (mt-sRNA) test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The modeling study, titled “Cost-effectiveness of novel noninvasive screening tests for colorectal neoplasia,” assessed five CRC screening strategies—including ColoSense, FIT, blood-based tests, and mt-sDNA tests—using a 10-year Markov model simulating disease progression in average-risk adults aged 45 and older. At a real-world adherence rate of 60%, ColoSense significantly outperformed its peers in reducing CRC mortality:
A research team from the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) and Queen Mary University of London has developed a breakthrough method to predict how colorectal cancer (CRC) cells become resistant to chemotherapy — a major reason treatment eventually fails. The method, published in Nature Communications, is called Evolutionary Informed Resistance Assays (EIRAs). It combines genetic lineage tracing with mathematical modeling to track how CRC cells evolve under the pressure of the commonly used chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu).Unlike traditional approaches that detect resistance only after it arises, EIRAs can forecast resistance trajectories. In their study, two CRC cell lines (SW620 and…
In this insightful podcast episode, Miguel Regueiro, MD, Chief of the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic, shares his journey from a young physician-in-training to one of the most respected leaders in gastroenterology today. He explores the evolution of the medical home model for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — a paradigm that places coordinated, multidisciplinary care at the center of managing complex chronic illness.
The FDA has escalated a Class I recall of Medtronic’s Bravo reflux testing system after 33 reports of serious injuries linked to the device. The Bravo system, commonly used to diagnose GERD, involves placing a pH-sensing capsule in the esophagus to detect acid levels. However, a manufacturing defect—specifically, misapplied adhesive—may cause the capsule to dislodge from the delivery system or fail to attach properly to the esophageal wall. The result? Risk of airway obstruction, tissue perforation, and internal bleeding. While no deaths have been reported, Medtronic and its Given Imaging unit have urged providers to quarantine affected lots and return…
In his latest Ground Truths essay, Eric Topol unpacks a wave of breakthroughs placing the gut-brain axis at the heart of modern medicine. From gut-derived T cells triggering neuroinflammation to H. pylori proteins blocking amyloid plaques, the gut is no longer just about digestion—it’s influencing immunity, neurodegeneration, and metabolic health. Topol also spotlights a surge in next-gen GLP-1s—oral, injectable, even triple agonists—being studied for everything from obesity and diabetes to sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s. The future of brain and immune health, he argues, may be driven not by the brain itself, but by what we feed and foster in our…
In a groundbreaking move, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals and Rush University Medical Center will launch the first clinical study connecting Medtronic’s AI-powered GI Genius™ module with Apple Vision Pro. The upcoming July 2025 trial, led by renowned gastroenterologist Dr. Irving Waxman, explores how spatial computing could redefine real-time colonoscopy workflows — letting endoscopists view AI-generated insights without diverting attention from the procedure. Could this fusion of clinical AI and immersive tech be the new standard in GI medicine?
Sap Sinha is not your typical GI leader—and that’s exactly why I wanted him on The Scope Forward Show. With a background in economics, consulting, and digital health, Sap brings a fresh, systems-level lens to a specialty that often struggles with operational inertia. As COO of Allied Digestive Health, he’s overseen 4x growth, reengineered core infrastructure, and redefined what scalability looks like in GI. This conversation is one of the most practical and thought-provoking explorations we’ve had yet on building the future of gastroenterology. Full disclosure: Allied Digestive Health is a client of my company, NextServices. Watch the episode. Top Insights from the Interview:1.Middleware…