A recent study presented at the Digestive Disease Week meeting in Washington has found that specific genes could determine the likelihood of patients with obesity responding positively to Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug, Wegovy. The research suggests that individuals with a certain genetic profile have a 95% probability of being strong responders to the treatment.

Dr. Andres Acosta, one of the researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, highlighted the significance of these findings for identifying patients who would benefit the most from Wegovy due to its high cost. He explained that individuals with a genetic variant associated with a "hungry gut" tend to feel full during a meal but quickly become hungry again as food leaves their stomach faster than in most other people.

The study involved 84 patients who were prescribed Wegovy for the treatment of obesity. Those with the identified genetic variants linked to the "hungry gut" experienced significant weight loss, averaging 14.4% of their total body weight after nine months and 19.5% after one year. In comparison, participants without this specific genetic profile lost 10.3% of their body weight after nine months and showed no further weight loss after 12 months.

The researchers noted that they had previously observed a similar pattern in patients taking the weight-loss drug liraglutide, marketed as Victoza and Saxenda by Novo Nordisk. While individuals without the "hungry gut" genetic variants did experience some weight loss with Wegovy, there might be alternative, less expensive therapies that could achieve similar results for them, according to Acosta.

The cost of Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, is priced at $1,349.02 per month. Acosta emphasized the importance of considering cheaper approaches that might produce comparable outcomes, such as other medications or surgery, for patients without the identified genetic markers.

The researchers acknowledged the need for larger studies involving more diverse populations to validate the reliability of the "hungry gut" genetic profile. If these new findings are confirmed, Acosta believes that doctors will finally have an answer for patients struggling with obesity, providing them with tailored advice regarding the suitability and potential benefits of Wegovy, or alternative treatments.

In conclusion, the study suggests that a specific genetic profile associated with a "hungry gut" could indicate a strong response to Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug, Wegovy. This finding could help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from the expensive medication, while also raising considerations for cost-effective alternatives in those without the identified genetic markers. Further research is required to validate these findings in a broader population.