Dr.Kang-ChihFan Taiwan

Dr.Kang-ChihFan
Dr. Kang-Chih Fan, MD, MMSc, is the Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism at National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch and a Clinical Lecturer at National Taiwan University College of Medicine. His research focuses on diabetes, lipid metabolism, and ceramide metabolism, exploring their roles in obesity, gestational diabetes, and long-term metabolic health. He has published in leading endocrinology journals, including the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) & International Journal of Obesity (IJO), and has received multiple academic awards for his contributions.

20 MARCH

Time Session
10:30
12:00
Future Management in Diabetes Mellitus
  • Daisuke YabeJapan Speaker Advancing toward a Cure for Diabetes: Insights from iPSC-Derived Islet Cell Transplantation TrialType 1 diabetes is characterized by absolute insulin deficiency and marked glycemic variability, creating a constant challenge for individuals who must maintain strict glycemic control to prevent complications and severe hypoglycemia. To address these persistent unmet medical needs, transplantation of pancreatic islet–like cells derived from embryonic stem (ES) or induced pluripotent stem (iPSC) cells has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Encouraging advances have recently been reported from the United States and China. Notably, a world-first autologous transplantation of patient-specific iPSC-derived islet-like cells in China achieved insulin independence with near-normal glycemic control. Despite its promise, concerns remain regarding long-term safety, durability, and broad applicability, underscoring the need for further rigorous clinical evaluation. This lecture will provide an overview of current progress and ongoing challenges in β-cell replacement therapy aimed at curing type 1 diabetes. In addition, I will introduce the study design of our clinical trial at Kyoto University Hospital evaluating allogeneic transplantation of iPSC-derived islet cell sheets (OZTx-410). Through these insights, we aim to highlight both the steady steps already taken and the horizon of possibilities ahead in the pursuit of a functional cure for diabetes.Incretin-Based Therapeutics: Bridging Theory and Practice, and Exploring New HorizonsThe landscape of type 2 diabetes management has been transformed by the advent of incretin-based therapies, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. In Japan—where more than 70% of individuals with diabetes are aged 65 years or older and commonly present with a non-obese phenotype and reduced insulin secretory capacity—DPP-4 inhibitors continue to serve as a fundamental treatment option, offering effective glycemic control with minimal risk of hypoglycemia. In contrast, among younger adults with obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists have emerged as essential agents that not only improve glycemic control but also promote weight reduction and confer cardiovascular and renal benefits. A major advance in 2023 was the approval of tirzepatide, a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist that engages both receptors. Tirzepatide has demonstrated robust glucose-lowering and weight-reducing effects in both clinical trials and real-world practice in Japan, further expanding therapeutic opportunities across the region. However, incretin-based therapies are not without challenges: gastrointestinal adverse events remain common, and potential associations with pancreatic and biliary diseases continue to require caution. In older adults, concerns regarding their impact on frailty and sarcopenia demand careful clinical judgment. Furthermore, inappropriate discontinuation of insulin therapy after initiating incretin treatment has occasionally resulted in severe clinical consequences, highlighting the critical need for decision-making that extends beyond the evidence from controlled trials. In response to these issues, the Japan Diabetes Society (JDS) Committee for the Safe Use of Medications released the Recommendations for the Safe Use of Incretin-Related Agents, Second Edition in 2024. Disseminating these recommendations across East Asia and the broader Asia–Oceania region will be essential to ensure the safe and effective application of incretin-based therapies in diverse clinical settings. In this plenary lecture, I will explore strategies to optimize type 2 diabetes management in Asia by harnessing the therapeutic potential of incretin-based agents while proactively mitigating associated risks. Together, we aim to build a future in which innovation, safety, and patient-centered care advance hand in hand.
  • Kang-Chih FanTaiwan Speaker AI-Driven Precision Drug Therapy: Tailoring Personalized Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a highly heterogeneous syndrome where "one-size-fits-all" algorithms often fail to address individual pathophysiological variations. While recent guidelines prioritize cardiorenal protection, the choice between second-line agents—particularly SGLT2 inhibitors versus GLP-1 receptor agonists—remains largely empirical. This "trial-and-error" paradigm frequently results in therapeutic inertia and suboptimal glycemic durability. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer a paradigm shift from population-based guidelines to precision diabetology. By integrating high-dimensional data from electronic health records (EHR), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and omics profiles, AI models can now quantify heterogeneous treatment effects (HTE) at the individual level. In this presentation, I will discuss: 1. Phenotypic Stratification: Moving beyond classic classification to identify data-driven clusters (e.g., severe insulin-resistant vs. age-related clusters) that dictate distinct disease trajectories. 2. Predictive Pharmacotherapy: Reviewing recent evidence where ML algorithms predict individual glycemic response and weight loss outcomes for specific drug classes. We will highlight how AI-driven decision support can optimize the selection between SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, maximizing efficacy while minimizing adverse events. 3. Real-World Implementation: Discussing the potential of leveraging large-scale longitudinal datasets, such as Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, to build robust, population-specific prediction models. Bridging the gap between data science and clinical practice, this session aims to demonstrate how AI can empower clinicians to prescribe the right drug for the right patient at the right time, fundamentally transforming T2D management.Anti-Obesity Medications: Clinical Use Obesity is a chronic, relapsing neurobehavioral disease requiring long-term management. Recent guidelines have shifted the treatment goal from BMI-centric weight loss to a "health-centered" approach, focusing on the remission of weight-related complications. With the advent of nutrient-stimulated hormone-based therapies, we have entered an era where pharmacotherapy can achieve double-digit weight loss comparable to bariatric surgery, offering systemic organ protection. In this session, we will navigate the clinical use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) through three key dimensions based on the latest evidence: 1. Efficacy and Organ Protection: We will review the landmark trials establishing GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists as the cornerstone of treatment. Highlights include Semaglutide (STEP, SELECT, ESSENCE) and Tirzepatide (SURMOUNT, SUMMIT, SURMOUNT-OSA), demonstrating not only 15–20% weight loss but also breakthrough benefits in cardiovascular outcomes (MACE), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 2. Comorbidity-Directed Strategy: A practical framework for drug selection will be proposed, distinguishing between "Fat Mass Disease" (e.g., OSA, osteoarthritis), which benefits primarily from mechanical weight reduction, and "Sick Fat Disease" (e.g., T2D, CVD, MASH), which requires correction of adipose dysfunction. We will discuss how to prioritize agents like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for high-risk profiles, while utilizing Naltrexone/Bupropion for emotional eating or Orlistat for patients requiring non-systemic options. 3. Asian Perspectives & Practical Management: We will present data confirming that Asian populations, who are highly sensitive to metabolic risks, achieve weight loss efficacy comparable to Western populations with Semaglutide and Tirzepatide (STEP-7, SURMOUNT-CN/J). Finally, we will address practical strategies for dose titration to mitigate GI adverse events and emphasize the necessity of chronic treatment to prevent weight regain. This presentation aims to equip clinicians with a precision medicine approach, ensuring the right AOM is prescribed to maximize both weight reduction and holistic health outcomes.
  • Jenny GuntonAustralia Speaker Closing the Type 2 Diabetes Gap in Cardiovascular and Renal DiseasePeople with type 2 diabetes die, on average, 6-7 years earlier. This is mostly due to excess cardiovascular events. This presentation will discuss options for lowering cardiovascular and renal risk in people with type 2 diabetes.Managing Hyperglycaemia in Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint InhibitorsIt is estimated that >20% of people treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) for their cancer will experience new or worsening hyperglycaemia. This presentation will discuss the differential diagnoses for the cause of hyperglycaemia in people treated with ICI and treatment strategies
101

21 MARCH

Time Session
08:30
10:00
Clinical Management of Obesity
  • I-Weng YenTaiwan Speaker Clinical Pathways for Obesity Management
  • Kang-Chih FanTaiwan Speaker AI-Driven Precision Drug Therapy: Tailoring Personalized Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a highly heterogeneous syndrome where "one-size-fits-all" algorithms often fail to address individual pathophysiological variations. While recent guidelines prioritize cardiorenal protection, the choice between second-line agents—particularly SGLT2 inhibitors versus GLP-1 receptor agonists—remains largely empirical. This "trial-and-error" paradigm frequently results in therapeutic inertia and suboptimal glycemic durability. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer a paradigm shift from population-based guidelines to precision diabetology. By integrating high-dimensional data from electronic health records (EHR), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and omics profiles, AI models can now quantify heterogeneous treatment effects (HTE) at the individual level. In this presentation, I will discuss: 1. Phenotypic Stratification: Moving beyond classic classification to identify data-driven clusters (e.g., severe insulin-resistant vs. age-related clusters) that dictate distinct disease trajectories. 2. Predictive Pharmacotherapy: Reviewing recent evidence where ML algorithms predict individual glycemic response and weight loss outcomes for specific drug classes. We will highlight how AI-driven decision support can optimize the selection between SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, maximizing efficacy while minimizing adverse events. 3. Real-World Implementation: Discussing the potential of leveraging large-scale longitudinal datasets, such as Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, to build robust, population-specific prediction models. Bridging the gap between data science and clinical practice, this session aims to demonstrate how AI can empower clinicians to prescribe the right drug for the right patient at the right time, fundamentally transforming T2D management.Anti-Obesity Medications: Clinical Use Obesity is a chronic, relapsing neurobehavioral disease requiring long-term management. Recent guidelines have shifted the treatment goal from BMI-centric weight loss to a "health-centered" approach, focusing on the remission of weight-related complications. With the advent of nutrient-stimulated hormone-based therapies, we have entered an era where pharmacotherapy can achieve double-digit weight loss comparable to bariatric surgery, offering systemic organ protection. In this session, we will navigate the clinical use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) through three key dimensions based on the latest evidence: 1. Efficacy and Organ Protection: We will review the landmark trials establishing GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists as the cornerstone of treatment. Highlights include Semaglutide (STEP, SELECT, ESSENCE) and Tirzepatide (SURMOUNT, SUMMIT, SURMOUNT-OSA), demonstrating not only 15–20% weight loss but also breakthrough benefits in cardiovascular outcomes (MACE), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 2. Comorbidity-Directed Strategy: A practical framework for drug selection will be proposed, distinguishing between "Fat Mass Disease" (e.g., OSA, osteoarthritis), which benefits primarily from mechanical weight reduction, and "Sick Fat Disease" (e.g., T2D, CVD, MASH), which requires correction of adipose dysfunction. We will discuss how to prioritize agents like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for high-risk profiles, while utilizing Naltrexone/Bupropion for emotional eating or Orlistat for patients requiring non-systemic options. 3. Asian Perspectives & Practical Management: We will present data confirming that Asian populations, who are highly sensitive to metabolic risks, achieve weight loss efficacy comparable to Western populations with Semaglutide and Tirzepatide (STEP-7, SURMOUNT-CN/J). Finally, we will address practical strategies for dose titration to mitigate GI adverse events and emphasize the necessity of chronic treatment to prevent weight regain. This presentation aims to equip clinicians with a precision medicine approach, ensuring the right AOM is prescribed to maximize both weight reduction and holistic health outcomes.
  • Chun Heng KuoTaiwan Speaker Obesity Care in Special Populations
102