Massachusetts-based gastric device firm, Allurion, has announced that its artificial intelligence (AI) driven personal coach, named Iris, is being offered to patients prescribed glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) as part of a new digital suite designed to drive US weight loss.
Allurion says that with the update to its AI coach, the service will now be able to specifically keep the users of GLP-1RAs, such as Ozempic or Rybelsus, up to date on aspects such as treatment duration, side effects, and consequences of stopping their treatment.
It comes as part of an expansion to the company’s Virtual Care Suite, a series of software applications including remote patient monitoring, predictive analytics, telehealth, and care team access, all managed by AI. The suite is available as a form of follow-on care for any clinicians providing GLP-1RA treatments as well as bariatric surgery and weight loss devices.
Shantanu Gaur, founder and CEO of Allurion, said: “I have seen firsthand how difficult it is for providers to offer best-in-class care for patients living with obesity. It demands close follow-up and lifestyle modification coaching at scale for sustained results.
“We believe VCS and, specifically, Coach Iris, can help ease this burden for them. We are excited to now work with our US clinical partners to help them achieve better, more sustainable weight loss outcomes for their patients.”
Research conducted by the US insurance provider group, Blue Cross Blue Shield, found that 58% of patients discontinue the use of GLP-1RAs before reaching a clinically meaningful health benefit, and 30% of patients discontinued the use of the medications within the first month.
The GLP-1RA space has exploded in value over recent years, generating billions in sales for pharmaceutical giants in the space such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Research by GlobalData estimates that GLP-1RA sales for the type 2 diabetes and obesity markets will reach more than $125bn in 2033.
Allurion says that from its own research, 87% of providers who used its virtual care suite reported increased patient accountability, 88% reported increased efficiencies in their practice, and 82% reported increased patient engagement.
Brian Conyer, vice president of digital health at Allurion, said: “Weight loss clinics in the US are experiencing explosive growth due to high patient demand for a number of therapies, including GLP-1RAs. As a result, we believe there is a significant opportunity for our digital products and AI-powered technology to help clinics and providers meet the demand, maintain positive patient outcomes, and continue to grow.”
Elsewhere in the field of weight loss, Allurion has seen success in the UK after the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust adopted the company’s gastric balloon technology.
