Episode Details
Join us on the latest episode! Our Guest: Dr. Shantanu Gaur, CEO and Co-Founder of Allurion Technologies
What you’ll get out of this episode:
- Dr. Gaur’s Background
- Overview of Allurion Technology
- Pros and Cons of Alternative Anti-Obesity Drugs
- How can generative AI play a role in the fight against obesity?
- How Allurion’s gastric balloon tech has helped more than 100k people around the world
- What’s next and whats the future look like?
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The Journey of Allurion
Dr. Shantanu Gaur, the co-founder and CEO of Allurion, started his journey towards revolutionizing obesity treatment during his time at Harvard Medical School. Encountering a patient suffering from complications post-weight loss surgery sparked his determination to create a safer, more convenient method to assist patients in achieving and maintaining weight loss. This was the inception of Allurion, a company now celebrated for treating over 100,000 patients globally with its unique blend of medical devices, AI, and behavior change strategies.
Pros and Cons of Anti-Obesity Drugs
While anti-obesity drugs, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists, have been around for some time, they’ve recently garnered much attention in the healthcare sphere. These potent drugs have changed the conversation around obesity, prompting millions to seek medical help for weight loss. However, Dr. Gaur warns that these drugs are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Side effects, lifelong usage, and the fact that about 40% of the weight loss comes from muscle loss rather than fat loss are just a few reasons to seek alternatives.
The Allurion Program as an Alternative
Allurion provides a comprehensive program that pairs non-surgical weight loss interventions with a behavior change program and coaching platform. The key to success in the weight loss field, according to Dr. Gaur, lies not only in losing weight but also in maintaining it over time.
The Future of Weight Loss through Allurion’s Lens
Generative AI, specifically in weight loss and obesity care, excites Dr. Gaur for the future. Human coaching, though necessary for behavior and lifestyle changes, can’t sustainably scale to support the growing number of people needing to lose weight. With Generative AI, Allurion can automate coaching and lifestyle changes, refining and fine-tuning the AI with their behavior change program’s guardrails.
Allurion’s Gastric Balloon Technology
Allurion’s primary offering is a gastric balloon that patients can ingest as a capsule during a 15-minute office visit. Once inside the stomach, the balloon fills up, helping patients feel full and manage portion control. This innovative balloon, designed to empty and pass out of the body naturally after four months, results in an average weight loss of 30 pounds over four months, with 95% of the weight maintained after a year.
Exciting Prospects for Allurion
With plans to go public in the coming months, Allurion aims to become a significant player in the rapidly expanding weight loss and obesity care market. The company foresees becoming the center of an ecosystem comprising devices, drugs, and surgical interventions for weight loss, impacting the maximum number of patients and saving countless lives in the process.
The future looks promising for Allurion as it continues to revolutionize the field of weight management with its groundbreaking gastric balloon technology and AI-driven coaching. As Dr. Gaur’s vision unfolds, we can only expect more exciting developments in the years to come.
WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS:
Our sponsors for this episode are Sage Growth Partners, FlipMD by GoodRX and Quantum Health
Sage Growth Partners accelerates commercial success for healthcare organizations through a singular focus on growth. The company helps its clients thrive amid the complexities of a rapidly changing marketplace with deep domain expertise and an integrated application of research, strategy, and marketing. For more information, please go to www.sage-growth.com & follow Sage Growth Partners on social media – @sagegrowthpartners
GoodRx is a company that operates a platform and mobile application providing information and discounts on prescription drugs. It was founded in 2011 with the aim of helping consumers save money on their medication costs. GoodRx acts as a bridge between consumers, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies.
The primary function of GoodRx is to aggregate and compare prices of prescription drugs from various pharmacies across the United States. They gather pricing information for both generic and brand-name medications, allowing users to find the most affordable options available to them. The platform provides users with details about drug prices, discounts, and savings opportunities at different pharmacies in their local area.
For more information, please go to https://www.goodrx.com/ & follow FlipMD on social media – @goodrx
Quantum Health is an award-winning consumer healthcare navigation company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience based on empathy and trust, enabling employers to achieve industry-leading satisfaction rates and independently validated claim savings. Launched in 1999, Quantum Health’s model is based on years of consumer research and the insights learned from guiding millions of consumers and their providers through their healthcare journey. Visit: https://quantum-health.com/ and follow Quantum health on social media – @Quantum Health
To learn more about Allurion Technology please use the links below:
– Allurion Technology LinkedIn – Allurion Technology Website –
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