A systematic review of 26 randomized controlled trials highlights that Eli Lilly’s experimental drug retatrutide achieves the greatest weight loss among GLP-1 receptor agonists and co-agonists, with a 22% reduction in body weight after 48 weeks. The review, conducted by McGill University researchers, also evaluated tirzepatide (18% weight loss after 72 weeks) and semaglutide (14% weight loss after 68 weeks), both commercially available. While all GLP-1 drugs reduced BMI, blood pressure, and waist circumference with a similar safety profile, gastrointestinal side effects were common, leading to treatment discontinuation in up to 26% of patients. The findings reinforce the potential need…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Three gastroenterology specialists highlighted the pivotal factors influencing the field in 2025, as reported by Becker’s. A combination of technological advancements and policy challenges will shape the future of gastroenterology in 2025. What might this mean for patient outcomes and the overall efficiency of healthcare in the GI field?
Castle Biosciences has achieved a significant milestone with New York State Department of Health approval for its TissueCypher® Barrett’s Esophagus test, the first AI-driven precision medicine tool designed to predict progression from Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) to esophageal cancer. This breakthrough enables personalized surveillance strategies or early interventions, addressing the rising incidence of esophageal cancer, one of the deadliest cancers in the U.S. By integrating advanced biomarkers and spatial biology, TissueCypher provides critical risk assessments for patients. Could this innovation redefine cancer prevention and treatment?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has emerged as a promising non-surgical alternative for weight loss and liver health improvement, significantly outperforming sham endoscopy in reducing body weight (–9.47% vs. –3.91%) and improving liver stiffness and steatosis. While ESG effectively enhanced NAFLD activity scores, its impact on fibrosis stages remained modest. Despite minor adverse events requiring brief hospitalization, ESG demonstrated a favorable safety profile. Positioned as a second-line treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and obesity, ESG shows potential, especially for patients unresponsive to lifestyle changes. Could this be the breakthrough for non-invasive management of complex metabolic conditions?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing gastrointestinal (GI) research, offering transformative advancements in diagnostics, drug development, and personalized medicine. AI enhances precision in endoscopic imaging, improves early cancer detection, and identifies biomarkers for targeted therapies. It streamlines clinical trials, supports drug repurposing, and utilizes real-world evidence to refine treatment protocols. AI also deepens understanding of the microbiome, unlocking therapeutic opportunities for GI disorders like IBD and colorectal cancer. With platforms like Virgo enabling real-time decision support, predictive analytics, and multimodal data integration, the future of GI research is set to achieve unprecedented breakthroughs, reshaping patient care and treatment strategies.
A study in JAMA Surgery reveals that esophagectomy outcomes, including 30-day mortality, serious complications, and failure to rescue, were significantly worse at private equity-acquired hospitals compared to non-acquired centers. Private equity hospitals, which comprised only 5.5% of cases, had lower procedural volumes, lower nurse-to-patient ratios, and were less likely to be teaching institutions. These disparities highlight structural issues beyond case volume, suggesting that intensive care organization and multidisciplinary team dynamics may contribute. The findings urge further investigations into quality disparities and the impact of private equity ownership on complex surgical care—raising critical questions about the balance between profit motives and…
Gastro Health has appointed Dr. Eugenio (Gene) Hernandez as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO), reinforcing its commitment to integrating clinical expertise into strategic decision-making. A founding member of Gastro Health and former Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs for Florida, Dr. Hernandez brings extensive experience in clinical service line development and ambulatory surgical centers.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections, which affect 500,000 Americans annually and result in 30,000 deaths. Despite its efficacy, access to FMT remains limited, particularly for children, due to the scarcity of pediatric-specific stool samples. Dr. Nikhil Pai, a pediatric gastroenterologist in Canada, is addressing this gap by establishing the country’s first pediatric stool bank, which has stored over 150 samples and completed five FMT procedures since 2022. His team is also pioneering oral “crapsules” to simplify treatment delivery. But could these advancements unlock the potential of FMT for other diseases beyond…
Geneoscopy, Inc. has raised $105 million in Series C funding, led by Bio-Rad Laboratories, to support the launch of ColoSense®, a non-invasive stool-based colorectal cancer screening test. The funding will also drive innovation in diagnostic tools for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). ColoSense leverages Geneoscopy’s proprietary RNA technology and Bio-Rad’s Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR™) platform, offering highly sensitive and specific cancer detection. Key Points:
Capsule endoscopy (CE), introduced in 2000 and FDA-approved in 2001, remains a valuable tool for diagnosing gastrointestinal (GI) lesions, particularly in areas inaccessible to traditional endoscopy. While CE offers non-invasive imaging and improves detection of small bowel diseases and obscure GI bleeding, its widespread use is hindered by limitations such as lack of therapeutic capabilities, inability to obtain biopsies, reliance on peristalsis for movement, and time-consuming image interpretation.