Gelesis weight loss capsules increase fullnes, study shows

Gelesis, focused on developing first-in-class products to safely induce weight loss and improve glycaemic control, has presented new data for its second product candidate, Gelesis200, at ObesityWeek 2016, the annual combined congress of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and The Obesity Society.

Data from this first-in-human study demonstrated that administration 10 minutes prior to a meal increased fullness throughout the entire day (P = 0.012).

“Gelesis200 is the second product comprised from our proprietary hydrogel platform, and it has been designed specifically for weight management as well as glycaemic control,” said Hassan Heshmati MD, Gelesis Chief Medical Officer. “Together with the safety and tolerability results announced earlier this year from the same study, these new data support the advancement of Gelesis200.”

Joe Bolen, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for PureTech Health, which owns 22.5% of the company said: “These clinical results for both Gelesis100 and Gelesis200 represent an important step forward in weight management and glycaemic control in people who are overweight or have obesity as well as those who have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. We look forward to advancing the Gelesis hydrogel engineering platform to address important medical needs.”

Besides 22.5% of Gelesis shares, PureTech also has on a diluted basis plus potential product royalties as of 30 June 2016.

Gelesis shareholders include Cormorant Asset Management, PureTech Health PLC, Invesco Asset Management, the Pritzker/Vlock Family Office, and other biotech and finance players.