AI Analysis Suggests Tailoring GLP-1 Drugs to Individual Patient Conditions for Optimal Weight Loss
NEW YORK - Researchers are making strides toward personalized medicine in obesity treatment, leveraging artificial intelligence to identify which GLP-1 drugs-like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic-may be most effective for individual patients based on thier existing health conditions.A recent study analyzed weight loss outcomes alongside the presence of 1,300 different medical conditions before and after treatment.
The analysis revealed important differences in “minimal weight loss” rates between drugs. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro saw 23 to 28 percent of patients categorized as experiencing minimal weight loss, compared to 30 to 43 percent for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic. Earlier-generation GLP-1 medications, including Lilly’s Trulicity and Novo’s Saxenda and Victoza, had the highest rates of minimal weight loss, ranging from 46 to 63 percent.
Researchers discovered specific conditions correlated wiht better or worse responses to particular drugs. Such as, the presence of muscle stiffness without knee pain or osteoarthritis increased the likelihood of a patient prescribed Zepbound becoming a ”super responder.” Conversely, patients with knee pain, osteoarthritis, chest pain, sleep apnea, or fibromyalgia were less likely to experience remarkable weight loss with Zepbound, according to researcher Soundararajan.
The study also indicated that patients with sciatica performed better on Wegovy, while those with melanoma were more likely to respond to Mounjaro, and individuals with aging osteoporosis showed a stronger response to Ozempic. Improvements in sinus pressure were reported across all patient groups regardless of the drug received.
The research team is now working to develop an algorithm that predicts individual benefits and risks for each drug based on a patient’s unique health profile,with plans for prospective testing. “These signals will become more refined as more data is collected from more and more patients,” Soundararajan stated.
