New Mayo Clinic Studies Find MyPhenome Test Predicts Recurrent Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery
Research presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 is the first to show that the MyPhenome test can identify patients at risk for weight regain and those most likely to benefit from bariatric procedures.
Menlo Park, Calif., May 28, 2025 – Phenomix Sciences (Phenomix), the first commercial precision obesity medicine biotechnology company, today announced a new study presented by Mayo Clinic researchers at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025. For the first time, the findings show the MyPhenome® test can help providers identify which patients are most likely to benefit from bariatric procedures, and which are at greater risk for long-term weight regain after surgery.
Led by renowned obesity expert and Phenomix co-founder Andres Acosta, MD, PhD, the study builds upon decades of research showing how genetic insights can improve clinical decision-making in obesity care. The study, “A machine-learning assisted gene risk score for calories to satiation predicts weight loss outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery,” was presented by Maria A. Espinosa, MD.
In the study, researchers analyzed genetic and long-term weight data for patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Using the MyPhenome test, the researchers found that patients with both a high genetic risk score and rare genetic mutations (leptin-melanocortin pathway) experienced significantly more weight regain over 15 years. This group maintained only 4.9% total body weight loss compared to up to 24.8% in other genetic groups. The findings suggest the MyPhenome test can help surgeons and healthcare providers identify patients who may need additional support or alternative approaches to maintain weight loss post-surgery.
"These findings open the door to more precise bariatric care," said Dr. Acosta. "When we understand a patient’s biological drivers of obesity, we can make better decisions about the right procedure, follow-up, and long-term support. This moves us away from a one-size-fits-all model to care rooted in each patient’s unique biology."
“This research is critical in advancing obesity care, and a big step toward smarter, faster innovation for bariatric surgery,” said Mark Bagnall, CEO of Phenomix Sciences. “By embedding genetic insights into treatment planning, we’re helping clinicians work toward more targeted outcomes. Ultimately, this improves patient satisfaction and long-term success, creating new pathways for innovative R&D.”
The MyPhenome test is a simple saliva swab that determines the root biological factors that can cause obesity and helps physicians personalize treatments for more effective weight loss. This research provides new support for integrating the MyPhenome test into obesity treatment planning and in the development of targeted surgical interventions and care pathways based on a patient’s unique biology.
“This study shows how genetic risk scores can directly inform the most critical decisions in obesity care, who should get surgery, what kind, and how to support them afterward,” said Barham Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH. “This is the future of bariatric treatment: matching patients with the right interventions based not just on symptoms or BMI, but on their underlying biology.”
“These findings mark a pivotal moment in bariatric care,” said Omar M. Ghanem, MD, study co-author, metabolic surgeon, and Chair of the Metabolic and Abdominal Wall Reconstructive Surgery Division at Mayo Clinic. “By using the MyPhenome test to identify patients with a higher genetic risk for recurrent weight gain, we can better tailor surgical strategies and long-term support. This precision approach enables us to intervene earlier, select the most appropriate procedure, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients who might otherwise struggle post-surgery.”
The studies were co-authored by Dr. Espinosa, Jose Villamarin, MD, Sima Fansa, MD, Alejandro Campos, MD, Lizeth Cifuentes, MD, Joshua T. Bublitz, Todd A. Kellogg, MD, Dr. Ghanem, Janet Olson, PhD, and Dr. Acosta.
For more information about Phenomix Sciences and supporting research, visit phenomixsciences.com. To see a full list of the studies presented at DDW, click here.
About Phenomix Sciences
Phenomix Sciences is a precision obesity biotechnology company transforming obesity care by putting patients at the center of therapeutic innovation. Through proprietary genetic testing, advanced analytics, rich clinical data, and technology exclusively licensed from Mayo Clinic, Phenomix delivers individualized insights into how patients respond to specific weight loss interventions. These insights not only inform clinical decision-making for patients but also help pharmaceutical and medical device partners refine trials, identify high-responder populations, and accelerate the development of more targeted, effective therapies. By aligning patient biology with drug discovery, Phenomix is shaping a more personalized and impactful future for obesity treatment. Phenomix is backed by Health2047, the innovation arm of the American Medical Association, which helps startups transform bold ideas into solutions that change healthcare for the better. Learn more at www.phenomixsciences.com.
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