From Obesity Drug Design to System Design: Pairing GLP-1s With Metabolic AI Digital Twins

This month, Viking Therapeutics says it has finished enrolling the Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 trial for its injectable obesity drug VK2735, plans to move an oral VK2735 into Phase 3 and intends to file an IND for a new amylin-agonist obesity program.

WIRED also profiles Twin Health, a Silicon Valley startup that combines wearable sensors (such as CGMs, smart scales, BP cuffs and fitness trackers) with an AI digital twin model of a person’s metabolism to deliver real-time, personalized food/activity recommendations and optional human coaching thereby positioning it as a lower-cost alternative or complement to GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and obesity management. It highlights early evidence suggesting participants using the program achieved better A1C targets with fewer medications and meaningful weight loss, while also noting privacy/invasiveness concerns and the reality that lifestyle-change programs won’t fit everyone.

AI digital twins could complement a GLP-1 company by continuously personalizing diet, activity and dosing-support around each patient's real-world response thus helping sustain weight loss, reduce side effects and drop-off and generate post-market evidence that improves outcomes and insurance or product payer value.

References

Viking Therapeutics Expands Obesity Pipeline As VK2735 Nears Late Stage Trials

Viking Therapeutics has completed enrollment in its Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 trial of injectable VK2735 for obesity. The company plans to advance its oral VK2735 obesity candidate into Phase 3 trials. Viking also intends to file an IND for a new amylin agonist program targeting obesity. Viking Therapeutics, ticker NasdaqCM:VKTX, is pushing deeper into obesity treatment with multiple assets now moving through late stage development. The stock trades at $29.0, with a return of 162.9% over three…

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AI Digital Twins Are Helping People Manage Diabetes and Obesity

As patients and employers look for alternatives to pricey GLP-1 drugs, Silicon Valley startup Twin Health is using AI and wearable sensors to help people make healthier choices.

WIREDEmily Mullin