ABSTRACT
Hydrogels are a platform technology consisting of a hydrophilic structure that becomes three-dimensional when hydrated with viscoelastic properties. Due to its softness and biocompatibility, it is well suited for medical applications. Gelesis100 (Plenity®) is the first super-absorbent hydrogel cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a device for the treatment of obesity in the body mass index range of 25 to 40 kg/m2. Gelesis100 allows physicians to prevent obesity with more than diet and lifestyle counseling using a treatment with the safety of a placebo that gives more weight loss in people with impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes. Epitomee is a super-absorbent hydrogel-based device in a phase III device registration trial for the treatment of obesity. Controlled trial data is not available. Preclinical studies have used hydrogels to create gastric balloons for treating obesity and to protect acid-sensitive treatments like probiotics from stomach acid. Preclinical studies have evaluated injectable hydrogels as delivery systems for medications to treat obesity allowing lower doses, higher bioavailability, greater safety, and longer-lasting doses. Gelesis is the first FDA-cleared use of hydrogels in the treatment of obesity, but the future for new hydrogel-based obesity treatments is bright.
