New Study Links GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs to Higher Post-Operative Infection Risks
A new Israeli study links GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to higher post-operative infection risks in aesthetic surgeries, while local biotech firms navigate funding challenges and mergers.
A recent study to be presented at the annual conference of the Israeli Association of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery points to a potential risk associated with GLP-1 weight-loss medications. Researchers examined infection rates among patients who underwent aesthetic surgeries following significant weight loss, comparing those who lost weight through medication versus bariatric surgery.
The findings revealed that the rate of surgical site infections reported in the year following the procedure stood at 8.3% for the GLP-1 group, compared to 4.7% in the bariatric group. Led by Dr. Mor Ritblat and other researchers from the Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, the study utilized data from the TriNetX international research network.
Possible Causes and Context
Researchers hypothesized that the elevated infection risk might stem from dietary habits associated with GLP-1 weight loss. Appetite suppression and delayed gastric emptying can lead to protein deficiencies, which in turn affect wound healing. Another potential factor is that a higher proportion of patients in the GLP-1 group had pre-existing diabetes, an independent risk factor for impaired wound healing.
Other large-scale studies have not found a direct link between GLP-1 medications and post-operative infections, and some research indicates they may reduce overall infections in diabetic patients. The researchers noted that the findings do not prove the injections directly caused the infections, but they highlight the need for further study into whether pre-operative preparations should be adjusted for these patients.
Biotech Mergers and Innovations
In related health and biotech news, Prof. Yechezkel (Hazi) Benzinger from the Hebrew University, inventor of the successful Doxil drug, is merging his current operations into the publicly traded company Nextage to develop a novel drug delivery system. Nextage, facing a 52% drop in its share price over the past year and limited cash reserves, hopes the liposomal technology will revitalize its portfolio.
Benzinger brings two key assets to the merger: Ayana Pharma, which developed a generic version of Doxil, and LipCure, which focuses on sustained-release local anesthetics to replace addictive opioids after surgery. Meanwhile, the Israeli medical device startup Phantom GI raised $5 million in a seed round ledV by Pitango HealthTech to advance its minimally invasive stoma creation device through US clinical trials.
