Dr. Yosep Ji, a member of Amway’s Scientific Advisory Board and CEO of HEM Pharma, announced that the healthcare industry is transitioning away from reactive medicine and risk prevention toward a model focused on extending healthspan. Speaking at THE STANDARD ECONOMIC FORUM 2026, Dr. Ji described the gut microbiome as the final piece of the puzzle for personalized wellness, functioning similarly to an autonomous vehicle system for the human body.
The Microbiome as a Predictive Tool
Unlike the human genome, which is static and offers limited data for AI-driven iterative learning, the gut microbiome is dynamic and responsive to lifestyle changes. Dr. Ji noted that the microbiome acts as a “time machine” for health, allowing scientists to detect disease risks three to five years before symptoms appear. This capability helps explain why individuals with identical genetics, such as identical twins, may react differently to the same food. In one test, twins consuming the same apple had different glucose responses, showing personalized health approaches will be needed over the next two decades.
Data-Driven Personalized Wellness
The human gut contains nearly 3 trillion bacteria—ten times more than the total number of trees on Earth—which function as an internal drug factory. These microbes break down nutrients into metabolites that enter the bloodstream. Because individual responses depend on the specific bacteria present, natural extracts and supplements require a microbiome-compatible environment to be effective.
To use this, researchers are moving from genetic decoding to metabolome analysis and "P-Mass" technology, which turns scattered health data into useful information. This includes the development of smart sanitary sensors to monitor microbiome data from stool in daily life. With a database of over 150,000 microbiome samples, the current goal is to integrate scientific research with commercial platforms. These diagnostic tools have already launched in South Korea and Japan, with plans for expansion into Thailand and other parts of Asia, alongside the development of microbiome-based biopharmaceuticals currently in phase 2 clinical trials.
