GLP-1 Deficiencies, Short Circuit 3: The Brain, Woebot Shut Down

Hey all,

Happy Thursday! Today's Rundown underscores the challenges of providing comprehensive care within evolving treatment paradigms. Breakthrough innovations such as GLP-1s and TMS encounter hurdles in terms of insurance coverage and establishing integrated models for holistic care delivery. Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(ScienceDirect) GLP-1RA Nutritional Deficiencies

A large retrospective study of over 461,000 adults newly prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) found that 12.7% developed nutritional deficiencies within six months, increasing to 22.4% at 12 months, with vitamin D deficiency being the most common and 3% of patients experiencing muscle loss within a year. These findings highlight the pressing need for routine nutritional screening and the involvement of dietitians to ensure comprehensive care for patients undergoing GLP-1RA treatment. Too bad dietitian care won’t scale anytime soon—BUCA PBMs haven’t figured out how to squeeze rebate dollars out of spinach and protein advice. Full Article.

(The Frontier Psychiatrists) Brain Circuits Driving Depression

Recent findings reveal that targeting specific brain circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), particularly with precise coil placement guided by structural MRI, significantly improves depression outcomes. Building on prior success with fMRI-guided SAINT protocols (showing up to 79% remission), researchers from Harvard and McLean Hospital demonstrated that the effectiveness of TMS using broader H-coils is closely linked to how well the electric field overlaps with a known depression network. This suggests a future where cost-effective structural MRI could personalize depression treatment without the need for expensive fMRI, potentially transforming depression care—if insurance coverage can catch up. Full Article

(STAT News) Woebot’s Shutdown Amid AI and Regulatory Tensions

Woebot Health has shut down its flagship therapy chatbot after struggling to navigate outdated FDA regulations and keep pace with rapidly evolving generative AI technologies. Despite serving 1.5 million users with a scripted, cognitive behavioral therapy-based tool, the company found it increasingly difficult to secure regulatory approval while competing against more flexible, LLM-powered chatbots now dominating the market. Founder Alison Darcy plans to pivot toward new, non-clinical AI experiences that avoid regulatory bottlenecks but still deliver meaningful emotional support. Full Article