On May 7, 2025, WeightWatchers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware, seeking to shed over $1 billion in debt. Once a dominant force in the wellness industry, the 62-year-old company has struggled amid the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. It plans to continue operations under new ownership, with existing shareholders retaining 9% equity. Despite declining overall revenue, WeightWatchers saw a 57% year-over-year increase in its clinical (telehealth and prescription drug) segment. The company rebranded as WW International in 2018 and had recently acquired telehealth platform Sequence to adapt to new trends.
Author: Abhay Panchal
In a major milestone, the FDA has completed its first generative AI-assisted scientific review pilot and announced an aggressive plan to deploy AI across all centers by June 30, 2025. Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary emphasized the need to eliminate administrative “busywork” and accelerate drug review timelines. The AI tools, already reducing multi-day review tasks to minutes, will be deployed through a secure, unified platform. Leadership has appointed a Chief AI Officer to oversee the rollout, signaling a transformative shift in regulatory science.
Dr. Amitabh Chak has been appointed President of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) for 2025–2026, succeeding Dr. Prateek Sharma. In his new role, Dr. Chak aims to champion innovation, enhance global educational initiatives, and promote the preventive role of endoscopy in both upper and lower GI cancers. A professor at Case Western Reserve University and a renowned leader in diagnostic intervention, Dr. Chak brings decades of service to ASGE and a legacy of advancing GI endoscopic excellence.
Castle Biosciences has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Previse, a GI health company focused on early detection of esophageal cancer and related conditions. Founded in 2018, Previse developed Esopredict®, a sensitive epigenetic test that predicts the risk of progression in Barrett’s esophagus patients. The test is based on NIH-backed biomarker research from Johns Hopkins. This acquisition strengthens Castle’s diagnostics portfolio and expands its reach into gastroenterology, targeting a high-risk, underserved patient population.
Sam Holliday, CEO of virtual GI clinic Oshi Health, has been named to the Rock Health Top 50 in Digital Health as a ‘System Disruptor’ for driving measurable improvements in patient outcomes and lowering costs. Under his leadership, Oshi Health—now available in all 50 states—delivers virtual-first, multidisciplinary digestive care through in-house gastroenterologists, dietitians, and behavioral health providers. The recognition reflects Oshi’s success in transforming GI care delivery by addressing systemic inefficiencies and aligning reimbursement with outcomes.
As nurse practitioners gain greater autonomy and influence, many physicians are raising concerns. Here are the key reasons why doctors should be paying close attention—from patient safety to professional identity and economic impact—to what is happening among health care providers.
The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) has more than doubled since 2022, contributing to a decline in bariatric surgery rates. While questions remain about long-term safety, GLP-1 RAs are increasingly seen as beneficial not only for weight loss and diabetes control but also for cardiovascular, neurologic, and GI outcomes. Gastroenterologists are now more involved in managing GLP-1-related side effects like delayed gastric emptying. Recent multisociety guidelines recommend a liquid diet 24 hours before procedures to mitigate aspiration risks.
At DDW 2025, results from the CDI-SCOPE trial showed that 95% of adults with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection achieved treatment success 8 weeks after receiving Rebyota (fecal microbiota, live-jslm) via colonoscopy. The trial confirmed Rebyota’s safety profile, with only mild GI-related side effects reported. Physicians also found the administration process efficient and positive. These findings support colonoscopy as a viable and effective delivery method for microbiota restoration therapy in rCDI patients.
IKS Health has partnered with GI Alliance—the largest independent GI services group in the U.S.—to create a next-generation revenue cycle management (RCM) and clinical optimization system specifically for gastroenterology. The partnership will combine AI-enabled automation with human expertise to streamline financial workflows and reduce administrative burdens for clinicians. This integration is expected to enhance operational sustainability and patient care quality across GI Alliance’s extensive network.
AI Outperformed Doctors in Cancer Communication:A study comparing ChatGPT with real physicians’ responses to patient questions on Reddit found that AI responses scored significantly higher in both quality (4.2 vs 3.0) and empathy (4.2 vs 2.0). However, physician responses were easier to read and written at a lower grade level.Stigma in Liver Disease Media Coverage: An analysis of 341 U.S. media articles from 2010–2023 found that 37% used stigmatizing terms when reporting on cirrhosis, often linking it to alcohol abuse or addiction. Researchers called for more responsible language to reduce public bias and improve health behaviors.