Tuesday, September 1, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

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Details

Lunch break symposium supported by Opella Chair(s) To be announced Introduction: Many commonly prescribed medicines—such as antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, metformin, GLP 1 receptor agonists and statins—can disrupt gut microbiota balance. This treatment induced dysbiosis may manifest as bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort or changes in bowel habits, symptoms that significantly affect patients’ daily lives and frequently lead to poor adherence or early discontinuation of therapy. In recent years, growing scientific evidence has highlighted the gut microbiota as a central mediator between pharmacological mechanisms, digestive tolerance and patient perceived outcomes. Dysbiosis is no longer viewed as a simple side effect, but as a key biological factor influencing treatment experience and effectiveness. This evolving understanding positions probiotics as a relevant and evidence based supportive strategy to help restore microbiota balance, reinforce colonisation resistance and support digestive comfort across different therapies. A central focus of this session will be the presentation of new and emerging studies shedding light on probiotic mechanisms of action at the pathway level. Recent research has identified specific metabolic compounds produced by selected probiotic strains, including signalling metabolites that influence intestinal barrier integrity, immune modulation and gut–brain–metabolic communication. These newly described pathways provide a mechanistic rationale for how targeted microbiota modulation may support both treatment tolerance and adherence. By translating the latest scientific insights into practical guidance, this session aims to empower pharmacists to confidently explain gut related side effects, position probiotics appropriately, and deliver evidence informed counselling at the pharmacy counter—enhancing both digestive comfort and long-term treatment success. Programme: • Introduction: “Why gut related side effects matter for adherence — and why pharmacists play a critical role”- Dr Diana (TBC) • “Dysbiosis in Medication: From Biological Disruption to Patient Perceived Symptoms”- Dr Francisco Guarner - 10 minutes • “Preclinical Insights Across GLP 1 RAs, Metformin and Statin Therapies: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanistic Rationale”- Dr Denis Guyonnet[LG1.1] • “How Do We Explain This at the Pharmacy Counter?”- Moderator Discussion -All speakers • Q&A and Closing remarks: All Learning objectives: 1. Understand how common therapies disrupt gut microbiota and how dysbiosis contributes to gastrointestinal side effects and reduced treatment adherence. 2. Apply recent scientific evidence on strain specific pathways and metabolites to improve patient counselling at the pharmacy counter. 3. Identify the role of probiotics in restoring gut microbiota balance and supporting digestive tolerance across metabolic, proton pump inhibitors and antibiotic therapies. Take home messages: Many widely used therapies induce gut dysbiosis, driving gastrointestinal symptoms that impair adherence. Certain probiotics, such as B Clausii 4 strains, supported by emerging mechanistic evidence, offer a practical strategy to restore microbiota balance and support pharmacists to optimise patient outcomes.