Precision Obesity Medicine Breakthroughs To Lead DDW 2025 Presentations from Phenomix Sciences

At Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025, May 4-6, 2025, in San Diego, CA, researchers from Mayo Clinic and Phenomix Sciences will present 17 novel studies that underscore the growing role of precision medicine in obesity treatment.

Andres Acosta, MD, PhD

Courtesy of Digestive Disease Week

The research, which includes 8 studies that utilize predictive algorithms developed by Phenomix, could substantially impact clinical practice, according to a company statement. The studies explore prediction of adverse events related to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) treatment, identification of a new obesity sub-phenotype, and personalized approaches to improve outcomes for both pharmacologic and surgical interventions, including bariatric and endoscopic procedures.

The presentations will include data derived from Phenomix’s MyPhenome® platform, a machine learning-powered genetic testing tool developed to predict biological drivers of obesity and patient response to treatment. The work, led by Andres Acosta, MD, PhD—an obesity medicine specialist and co-founder of Phenomix—aims to refine patient stratification in obesity care, a key challenge in both pharmacologic and procedural interventions. Key studies to watch for:

GLP-1 RA Side Effect Risk Stratification
A genetic risk score associated with nausea resulting from GLP-1 agonist treatment

The study explores the use of genetic risk scores (GRS) to identify patients more likely to experience side effects, particularly nausea and vomiting, when treated with GLP-1 RAs. These agents, while widely used, are often limited by tolerability issues. The featured session will present a post-hoc analysis of a randomized trial of GLP-1 RA liraglutide. The results suggest GRS data may help guide therapy selection and improve patient adherence and outcomes.

A New Sub-Phenotype of Obesity
Deep phenotyping of obesity reveals a sub-phenotype with physiologically discordant rapid gastric emptying and reduced GLP-1 synthesis and secretion

In a plenary session, Mayo Clinic researchers will introduce a newly discovered obesity sub-phenotype characterized by rapid gastric emptying coupled with low endogenous GLP-1 secretion—a pairing not commonly observed together and that challenges current understanding of satiety signaling pathways. This combination may explain persistent hunger and suboptimal response to existing therapies in certain patients. The “physiologically discordant” phenotype may provide the foundation for more tailored medical and surgical interventions, analogous to precision treatment strategies in oncology, the statement noted.

Precision Medicine in Bariatric and Endoscopic Procedures
A genetic risk score for postprandial satiety associated with improved weight loss after endoscopic bariatric therapies: a multicenter cohort analysis
A machine-learning assisted gene risk score for calories to satiation predicts weight loss outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

Two studies to be presented at DDW 2025 will demonstrate the ability of MyPhenome to inform patient selection and expected outcomes for endoscopic and surgical weight-loss interventions. One study links a GRS for postprandial satiety with improved weight loss following endoscopic bariatric therapy. Another finds that a gene score for calories-to-satiation correlates with outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, suggesting that predictive testing could aid in selecting candidates for specific procedures or forecasting results.

Together, these studies strengthen the case for integrating biological phenotyping into clinical decision-making in obesity medicine. Findings may also support targeted prediction and prevention strategies for conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

"These findings mark a major step toward truly personalized obesity care, not just in drug response but also in bariatric procedures, device selection, and future drug development," Acosta said in the statement. "For years, our team has worked to demonstrate that obesity is a biologically complex and highly individual disease. Our valued partnership with Phenomix Sciences has been instrumental in advancing this work and has paved the way for more effective, patient-specific treatments."

The integration of tools like MyPhenome into routine clinical practice remains a work in progress, but the trajectory toward personalized obesity care appears increasingly data-driven—and increasingly feasible.

Session details

• GLP-1 Side Effects Prediction: Sunday, May 4, 12:30–1:30 PM (Session 0012)
• New Obesity Sub-Phenotype Discovery: Monday, May 5, 4:30–4:50 PM (Session 0004)
• Bariatric Response Prediction:
  • Endoscopic Therapy: Sunday, May 4, 12:30–1:30 PM (Session 0001)
  • Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Tuesday, May 6, 2:30–2:45 PM (Session 0003)

1. Phenomix Sciences and Mayo Clinic to present landmark research at DDW 2025, advancing precision obesity medicine. News release. Phenomix Sciences. April 23, 2025. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://www.phenomixsciences.com/about/press

2. Halsey G. The promise of precision medicine for obesity: it should be simple. Patient Care. November 18, 2022. https://www.patientcareonline.com/view/the-promise-of-precision-medicine-for-obesity-it-should-be-simple