Gelesis
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare, Biotechnology |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | John LaMattina, PhD – Chairman, Yishai Zohar, PhD - CEO and Founder, Robert W. Armstrong, PhD – Chief Business Officer |
| Website | http://www.gelesis.com/ |
Gelesis is a privately held biotechnology company located in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] The company is developing orally administered medical devices made out of food ingredients that, when taken with water, expand in the stomach to give a feeling of satiety. The particles mix with food, keeping it in the stomach longer and slowing the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.[2] Gelesis' first investigational device, Gelesis100, is currently in proof of concept clinical studies for the treatment of obesity.[3][4][5]
History
Gelesis was founded by PureTech Ventures.[6] The company’s technology is based around technology out of the University of Salento in Italy.[2] Alessandro Sannino, a professor of engineering at the University of Salento, is a co-inventor of the technology.[1] Gelesis has raised $42 million to date through four rounds of funding, with the most recent round of $12M announced in May 2014 with PureTech Ventures, Pritzker/Vlock Family Office, and other undisclosed investors participating.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Obesity Capsule From Gelesis, Made to Swell Up in the Stomach, Passes First Human Trial". Xconomy.com. April 22, 2010.
- ^ a b "Gelesis Resurfaces With $12M, Preps First Weight Loss Data". Xconomy.com. May 16, 2014.
- ^ "Capsule effective in pre-diabetic patients". BariatricNews.net. June 26, 2014.
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/business/early-results-arrive-on-weight-loss-pills-that-expand-in-the-stomach.html?_r=0
- ^ http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/06/29/novel-ways-lose-weight-include-stomach-gel-electrical-impulses/LLzowmiW9d8yZsXXiHSOWN/story.html
- ^ "Gelesis raises $12 million for pill that staves off hunger". BetaBoston.com. May 16, 2014.
- ^ "The Daily Startup: Medtronic Spinout Raises $40M to Treat Sleep Apnea". WSJ.com. May 16, 2014.