May 20 (Reuters) - Certain genes may identify patients

with obesity who are most likely to respond strongly to Novo

Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy, researchers

reported on Monday.

The study, released at the Digestive Disease Week meeting in

Washington, found a 95% likelihood that patients with this

genetic profile would be strong responders to the treatment.

Given the expense of Wegovy, the findings might be used to

identify the patients most likely to get the greatest benefit

from it, according to Dr. Andres Acosta of the Mayo Clinic in

Rochester, Minnesota, one of the researchers.

Some people with obesity have a genetic profile that

contributes to what is called a "hungry gut" - that is, they

feel full during a meal but become hungry again shortly

afterward because food leaves their stomach more quickly than in

most other people, Acosta said.

The study involved 84 patients prescribed Wegovy for

treatment of obesity. Those with the genetic variants associated

with "hungry gut" lost an average of 14.4% of their total body

weight after nine months on the drug and 19.5% after a year, the

study found.

By comparison, study participants without this genetic

profile lost 10.3% of their body weight after nine months and

nothing more by 12 months.

Acosta said the researchers previously saw a similar pattern

in patients taking the weight-loss drug liraglutide, which is

marketed under the names Victoza and Saxenda by Novo Nordisk.

While patients without the "hungry gut" genes did lose some

weight on Wegovy, they might be able to lose similar amounts

with less-expensive therapies, Acosta said. The list price for

Wegovy, also called semaglutide, is $1,349.02 per month.

"When you're going to spend this much money," Acosta said,

"you have to ask, 'Is there a cheaper approach that will yield

the same results in some patients, maybe other medications or

surgery?'"

Larger studies are needed to assess the reliability of the

"hungry gut" genetic profile in more diverse populations, the

researchers said.

If the new results are confirmed, Acosta said, doctors can

finally tell some of their patients, "'We know why you are

struggling with obesity,' and we can say with confidence, 'This

expensive drug will help you,' or, 'Hey, this might not be for

you.'"