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(Alliance News) - Boston-based biotechnology company PureTech Health PLC's founded entity Gelesis Holdings Inc said on Wednesday that its weight loss drug showed positive responses in adults in clinical trials.
Gelesis, formerly Gelesis Inc, recently listed in New York, following a business combination with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp.
The oral drug, dubbed GS200, demonstrated a highly favourable categorial weight loss response in adults with overweight or obesity who have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
The trial met both of its primary endpoints, namely the proportion of participants who achieved at least 5% body weight loss and the change in body weight after six months of therapy.
Gelesis presented its six-month study at the European Congress on Obesity 2022.
Six of the ten GS200-treated adults achieved at least 5% body weight loss, losing on average 11% in only 24 weeks.
One out of three of such adults were "super responders", losing at least 10% of their body weight and on average losing 13% in the same amount of time.
Gelesis Chief Medical Officer Harry L. Leide said: "There is a real need for tolerable, effective, and affordable therapeutics to aid in weight loss for patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
"Approximately 130 million Americans have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes and approximately 80% struggle with excess weight. Importantly, these individuals also have a high risk of heart disease and other serious chronic conditions, related to overweight and obesity, making this one of the biggest public health issues facing our society."
GS200 is an orally administered super-absorbent hydrogel taken by capsule with water 10 minutes before lunch and dinner and is made to act mechanically in the gastrointestinal tract to induce satiety in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Puretech Health PLC's shares were up 2.4% today at 173.00 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon.
By Xindi Wei; xindiwei@alliancenews.com
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