General Catalyst Hospitalized, Gut Instincts, Novo’s Next Med

Hey all,

Happy Monday! I will be traveling today and tomorrow to the Transparency Rx conference. I’m excited to meet existing partners and potential ones to talk about how we can make pharmacy benefits better. Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX) 

(Fierce Healthcare) Summa Health Sale To General Catalyst Approved

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has approved General Catalyst’s $485 million acquisition of Summa Health through its subsidiary HATCo, but imposed 10 conditions to ensure the hospital system’s nonprofit legacy and community investment are preserved. The approval follows months of scrutiny over the sale of nonprofit assets to a for-profit entity and includes requirements such as increasing the sale price by $15 million and transferring $15 million in equity to a community foundation. This landmark deal marks a rare VC-backed hospital acquisition, signaling a long-term commitment to healthcare transformation—but I’m sure General Catalyst has a bulletproof plan for replacing the likely nine-figure hole that’ll open up once Summa loses access to the 340B program because it’s no longer nonprofit. Full Article

(Eric Topol Substack) The Gut-Brain Axis Takes Center Stage

A surge in discoveries around the gut-brain axis is revolutionizing medicine, with groundbreaking insights into how gut hormones, immune signals, and microbiota shape brain health and systemic inflammation. New evidence shows gut-derived immune cells can drive brain inflammation, gut bacteria may block amyloid formation linked to Alzheimer’s, and a wave of advanced GLP-1-based therapies is proving effective across obesity, diabetes, heart, and even neurodegenerative diseases. With over 12% of U.S. adults already on these drugs and broader therapeutic potentials emerging, the gut is rapidly becoming a central player in treating chronic disease and extending healthspan. Full Article

(STAT) Novo Nordisk’s Amylin Obesity Drug CagriSema vs. Zepbound

Late-stage trial results show Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema achieves similar weight loss and tolerability to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, disappointing investors but affirming its clinical relevance. Though weight loss plateaued around 68 weeks and side effect rates were comparable, physicians see the drug as a strong addition to obesity treatment—especially with potential benefits from its flexible dosing approach. As a Type 1 diabetic who doesn’t produce amylin, I’m excited to see this therapy come to market. Full Article