Gelesis100, sold under the brand name Plenity, is an oral
hydrogel
A hydrogel is a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer that does not dissolve in water. They are highly absorbent yet maintain well defined structures. These properties underpin several applications, especially in the biomedical area. Many hydrogels ar ...
used to treat
overweight
Being overweight or fat is having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is especially common where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary.
, excess weight reached epidemic proportions globally, with mo ...
and
obesity.
It absorbs water and expands in the
stomach and
small bowel thereby increasing feelings of fullness. Possible side effects include primarily gastrointestinal symptoms,
such as
diarrhea,
abdominal distention, infrequent bowel movements,
constipation,
abdominal pain, and
flatulence
Flatulence, in humans, is the expulsion of gas from the intestines via the anus, commonly referred to as farting. "Flatus" is the medical word for gas generated in the stomach or bowels. A proportion of intestinal gas may be swallowed environm ...
.
It is contraindicated in
pregnancy,
chronic malabsorption syndromes, and
cholestasis.
The
US Food and Drug Administration approved it in 2019 as a medical device. Gelesis100 was developed by the company
Gelesis.
History
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Gelesis100 in April 2019 as a
medical device.
Gelesis100 is the first treatment of its kind for overweight and obesity.
In 2022, the American Gastroenterology Association published a guideline for the management of obesity, which recommended the use of Gelesis100 be limited to clinical trials due to limited evidence.
Uses
Gelesis100 is used to treat obesity and overweight as an
anti-obesity medication
Anti-obesity medication or weight loss medications are pharmacological agents that reduce or control weight. These medications alter one of the fundamental processes of the human body, weight regulation, by altering either appetite, or absorpt ...
.
Gelesis100 is taken as a pill before meals with water.
Mechanism and physiology
Gelesis100 is an oral superabsorbent hydrogel, which is produced from
carboxymethylcellulose and
citric acid.
The cross-linked product forms a hydrophilic matrix, which absorbs water.
Taken in capsule form by mouth,
as Gelesis100 absorbs water, it expands in the stomach and small intestine.
After absorbing water, a semisolid gel structure forms, which may promote satiety and result in weight loss
via reduced caloric intake.
Contraindications
Gelesis100 is contraindicated in pregnancy, chronic malabsorption syndromes, and cholestasis.
Side effects
Side effects consist of minor gastrointestinal symptoms,
including diarrhea, abdominal distention, infrequent bowel movements, constipation, abdominal pain, and flatulence.
Gelesis100 is not associated with any severe adverse events.
However, long-term safety data beyond 24 weeks is not available.
References
External links
Official website
{{Anorectics
Gastroenterology
Antiobesity drugs
Bariatrics
Obesity
Medical devices