- The pill, called Gelesis100, is made from the vegetable extract cellulose
- It absorbs water and swells 100 times its original size and helps suppress hunger
- The treatment is expected to be made available to doctors within two years
Doctors last night hailed a new pill that helps obese patients lose up to 10 per cent of their weight.
The pill, called Gelesis100, is made from the vegetable extract cellulose. Once in the stomach, it absorbs water to swell up to 100 times its original size, helping to suppress hunger. The particles gradually disintegrate and are passed through the body.
Doctors last night hailed a new pill that helps obese patients lose up to 10 per cent of their weight
The treatment is expected to be made available to doctors within two years.
During a trial at Liverpool’s Aintree University Hospital, a fifth of adults lost 10 per cent or more of their body weight within six months.
Researchers also noticed a fall in blood sugar levels in patients, reducing the risk of them developing Type 2 diabetes.
During a trial at Liverpool’s Aintree University Hospital, a fifth of adults lost 10 per cent or more of their body weight within six months
Professor John Wilding, who ran the trial, said: ‘It’s a simple idea and it has the benefit of not being a drug. You take it, it sits in your stomach and you feel fuller.’
Expert Dr Frank Greenway said: ‘Knowing that my patients could achieve clinically meaningful weight-loss without some of the safety trade-offs makes me excited about this new approach.’