Phenomix Sciences Debuts Test to Predict Obesity Phenotype

With forecasts predicting that obesity drug sales will quadruple in the next five years to $11 billion annually, it is crucial for providers to know which patients will react positively to GLP-1 medications before prescribing them. Consequently, Phenomix Sciences (Phenomix) has launched its first therapy selection assay, called the My Phenome Hungry Gut test. This first-of-its-kind obesity test will determine whether a patient’s phenotype is Hungry Gut (satiety), or feeling hungry shortly after eating a meal. If a patient is Hungry Gut phenotyped, providers are able to more precisely and accurately make a treatment plan which would include a diet intervention specific to Hungry Gut, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide) medications, and intragastric balloons.    
 
Phenomix Sciences aims to conquer obesity through the science of phenotyping,  the understanding of the ways in which genes combined with environmental and behavioral factors can inform obesity treatment plans. Through extensive research from Phenomix’s physician founders Andres Acosta, M.D., Ph.D., and Michael Camilleri, M.D., D.Sc., of Mayo Clinic, they have found that obesity is not a single disease with a single treatment type, but a constellation of diseases requiring personalized treatments. The three types of obesity phenotypes in addition to Hungry Gut are Hungry Brain, Emotional Hunger, and Slow Burn. 
 
The company’s first test is addressing the Hungry Gut phenotype, which is caused by the lack of satiety due to the stomach moving the food out of the stomach faster than other phenotypes. Since variability between patients can be drastic, the Hungry Gut test is developed to predict how a patient will respond and allows physicians to choose a precise treatment plan for patients. 
 
“This launch marks a turning point for the field of obesity. We have chosen to focus on bringing this test to market first because GLP-1 medications are costly to patients yet in such high demand. By prescribing medications to the right group of patients, we can significantly reduce negative responses,” Phenomix Sciences CEO Mark Bagnall said. “Our initial launch of the test is to a small group of obesity medicine physicians who understand the different phenotypes described by Drs. Acosta and Camilleri and appropriately counsel patients on their treatment options.” 
 
Phenomix Sciences is backed by Health2047, a firm powered by the American Medical Association (AMA) attempting to make a meaningful and measurable impact on healthcare by the AMA’s 200th anniversary in 2047. “The ability to make an impact on significant healthcare problems like obesity is exactly why the AMA launched Health 2047,” AMA CEO Jim Madara, M.D., stated. “It is encouraging to see another one of the companies we founded achieve an important milestone and contribute to such a prevalent disease affecting nearly half of all Americans.”
 
The Hungry Gut Test will initially be rolled out to a select group of providers before a full roll-out later this year. 
 
Phenomix Sciences is a biotechnology pioneer that leverages data intelligence for yielding better accuracy in predicting individual patient response to specific weight loss interventions and reducing the variability in weight loss results for patients.