Latest news with #SyntisBio
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Gastric bypass pill' causes weight loss without side effects: Study
(NewsNation) — A daily pill could give patients the weight-loss benefits of gastric bypass surgery or drugs like Ozempic — with none of the negative side effects, according to a recent clinical trial. Researchers say the SYNT-101 pill, developed by Boston-based Syntis Bio, mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery while preserving muscle mass better than GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. The pill forms a film on the small intestine that redirects nutrient exposure to the lower intestine and gives patients a feeling of fullness — effectively mimicking gastric bypass surgery, which reroutes a person's intestines. The coating lasts up to 24 hours before it's expelled from the body. Who is eligible for weight loss medication? 'A lot remains to be seen with these medications, but the studies that we've seen so far look really promising,' said Dr. Jessica Duncan, an obesity medicine physician. The pill led to consistent weight loss and maintained lean muscle mass in rodent trials, and the first human study confirmed the pill formed a film and was safely cleared from the body within a day. 'These data further validate the potential of SYNT-101 as a convenient once-daily oral alternative or complement to GLP-1 drugs, which often involve substantial costs, severe side effects such as muscle loss and long-term maintenance issues despite high efficacy rates,' said Rahul Dhanda, CEO of Syntis, in a statement. Are weight loss drugs safe? Learn some of the side effects The study has limitations. The human trial only examined effects on nine patients who took one dose. Patients included seven women and two men between 24 and 53 who were not considered obese. 'So in that small group of people, they had no side effects, no serious or adverse events, and they didn't have any gastrointestinal side effects,' Duncan said. 'But with nine people, it's really hard to tell.' Duncan said the pill's safety profile will be developed in upcoming clinical trials. She told NewsNation that, whether weight loss is coming from a pill, surgery or injection, it's important to preserve muscle mass and eat well. 'Medications are super helpful for correcting the biological causes of obesity, but you have to make those lifestyle changes as well,' Duncan added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
New daily ‘gastric bypass pill' leads to consistent weight loss — and no side effects: study
A new once-daily pill may raise the bar for weight loss meds. Ozempic, Mounjaro and similar drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone the body naturally produces after eating can cause significant weight loss, but a potential side effect is loss of lean muscle mass. The makers of the experimental drug SYNT-101 claim it mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery while preserving lean muscle mass better than GLP-1 drugs. 3 SYNT-101 is a once-daily pill designed to mimic the effects of gastric bypass surgery while preserving lean muscle mass better than other weight loss drugs. New Africa – 'We believe that SYNT-101 will provide a convenient, more sustainable oral alternative and/or complement to systemic therapies such as GLP-1 drugs,' said Rahul Dhanda, CEO of Syntis Bio, the Boston-based biopharmaceutical company developing the treatment. SYNT-101 forms a synthetic film on the surface of the small intestine, shifting nutrient exposure to the lower intestine to promote a feeling of fullness. The lining is designed to work for up to 24 hours before it's naturally cleared from the body. In a new first-in-human study, seven women and two men between the ages of 24 and 53, who were not considered obese, took varying doses of SYNT-101 in liquid form. Imaging confirmed that the coating formed across the upper small intestine, and tissue samples showed that SYNT-101 was safely expelled within 24 hours. Further testing showed the participants had normal liver functioning and lower glucose absorption. SYNT-101 promotes better energy balance, Dhanda said, lessening the body's tendency to break down muscle tissue for fuel. 3 In rodent studies, SYNT-101 produced weight loss of 1% a week for six weeks while preserving 100% of lean muscle mass. íÅ¡í¸íâ¬í¸í»í» í íâ¹í¶í¾í² – No serious side effects were reported. Nausea is one of the most frequently reported side effects of GLP-1 drugs — and one of the major reasons why some users quit taking them. Hair loss and skin pain are among the less common side effects. Blindness and behavioral changes can occur in very rare cases. Weight loss was not tracked for this study, but the researchers said the results reflected reduced food consumption. In rodent studies, SYNT-101 produced weight loss of 1% a week for six weeks while preserving 100% of lean muscle mass. 3 While drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone the body naturally produces after eating can cause significant weight loss, a potential side effect is loss of lean muscle mass. Chanakon – The new findings were presented this week at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. 'The millions of people living with obesity need novel treatment options that are safe, effective and avoid the high costs and severe side effects that often accompany available treatment options,' Dhanda said. More research is needed to fully assess the drug's efficacy and safety. Syntis Bio plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the Food and Drug Administration later this year. 'We are eager to replicate these data in our upcoming Phase 1 clinical trial and further explore the ability of SYNT-101 to produce sustainable, safe, effective weight loss by reducing fat, preserving lean muscle and stimulating natural production of satiety hormones to prevent weight regain,' Dhanda said.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
'Golden age' weight-loss pill that mimics gastric bypass op is hailed a 'miracle' - and said to be better than fat jabs
A pill that mimics the effect of a gastric bypass has been touted as the latest weight loss miracle – and may even be more effective than fat jabs in the long term. The capsules produce a temporary coating in the gut that prevents food from being absorbed, forcing it into the lower intestine and triggering hormones that make you feel full. Its manufacturers say it may have advantages over weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, including having fewer side effects and being easier to take. It is also far safer and less invasive than actual gastric bypass surgery. Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, makers of the pill, said: 'The problem is [fat jabs] are not very tolerable and patients want to come off them. 'You want to have a long-term maintenance therapy, and an oral pill is the rational choice because it's simple, tolerable and safe. 'What we're seeing now is patients and clinics being more focused on having something safe and sustainable to keep on a manageable, sustainable weight-loss path. 'I anticipate the side effects to be minimal to none, and we haven't seen any yet in human tests. That is because it doesn't enter the bloodstream like injections do. 'It's a mechanical molecule, so it's like we're inserting a stent, as opposed to a drug that is acting with the target, and also off the target.' By binding to the mucous membrane lining of the duodenum - the top of the intestine near the stomach - the pills create a barrier that stops calories being absorbed. It forces food directly into the lower part of the digestive system, the pills set off a 'cascade' of hormones including GLP-1, the same chemical mimicked by semaglutide jab Wegovy. It also causes the body to stop producing ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry, and start producing leptin, which makes you feel satisfied. The person taking the pill feels full more quickly and stops eating. The coating created by the pill sheds naturally after about 24 hours, leaving no trace. The effect is similar to gastric bypass, in which surgeons make the stomach smaller and shorten the small intestine, changing how the body absorbs food and leaving people feeling fuller after eating less. In rats, the drug caused the animals to lose 1 per cent of their bodyweight per week while preserving 100 per cent of their lean muscle mass. Trials in humans have not studied weight loss but found the pills cause no harmful side effects. If they prove effective in further trials, the pills could help patients maintain a healthy weight after intensive weight-loss with jabs, or replace the injections entirely. Dr Louis Aronne of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City told the conference that a 'golden age' of treatment had begun with these new drugs. The Times reported he was pushing for health providers, including the NHS, to 'roll them out at scale', addding: 'I think use of drugs like this will prevent the need for many other medications, procedures, and surgeries.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
New ‘dream' daily weight loss pill ‘better than surgery OR fat jabs' and has ‘minimal to no side effects'
A DAILY weight loss pill is a safer alternative to gastric bypass surgery, makers say. The tablet does the same job by making people feel full for longer. Its developers say the treatment is a better way to lose weight than surgery or fat jabs, which can trigger severe side-effects. A pilot human trial on nine patients indicated the pill was safe to use and reduced hunger signals. It contains a chemical called polydopamine that reacts with an enzyme in the gut to create a lining which moves digestion to an area where fullness hormones are triggered. The mucosal membrane is then naturally excreted by the body each day. Gastric bypass surgery disconnects the stomach from the small intestine and reattaches it lower down to achieve the same effect. It is effective but only a few thousand patients have the operation each year on the NHS. The Synt-101 pill was developed by US company Syntis Bio. Chief executive Rahul Dhanda told the European Congress on Obesity in Spain: 'The dream is to have this be the go-to drug for weight management. 'The obvious benefit over gastric bypass surgery is you could avoid an invasive procedure and take a daily pill instead. "Plus a gastric bypass is irreversible whereas you can stop this when you no longer want it. 'This integrates with the mucosal membrane which is naturally excreted by the body. You take the pill once a day in the morning and it should be cleared by the next day.' 40 Day Health Challenge pro reveals top tips to avoid snacking Mr Dhanda said the pill could also be taken by patients who have come off GLP-1 weight loss injections, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. He said: 'The problem with GLP-1s is they are not very tolerable. 'An oral pill is the rational choice because it's simple, tolerable and safe. 'I anticipate the side-effects to be minimal to none.' 'Golden age' for fat fight A GOLDEN age of obesity treatment is on the horizon with more than 150 new drugs in clinical trials, experts say. But they need to be rolled out quicker to the 16million fat people in Britain, they believe. The European Congress on Obesity heard pharma companies are spending billions targeting hunger hormones. Dr Louis Aronne, of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, said: 'I call this the golden age of obesity treatment.' It could take the NHS 12 years to supply all those who need them. Prof Jason Halford, of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, said: 'These drugs have the potential to help millions. 'If the Government and NHS are serious about prevention, they need to reconsider the speed of the rollout of these drugs.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Gastric bypass in a pill' helps weight loss without side effects, inventors say
Obesity conference hears how daily pill causes food digestion to bypass part of the stomach so fewer calories are actually absorbed by the body A 'gastric bypass in a pill' could help dieters feel full quicker and shed pounds, inventors say. The new daily tablet produces a coating at the top of the intestine, moving digestion to the lower part where fullness hormones are triggered. Manufacturer Syntis Bio reckons it could become 'the go to drug for weight management' as it will have fewer side effects than powerful appetite-suppressing injections. Gastric bypass operations have been performed by the NHS on the dangerously obese for over 20 years. They involve creating a small stomach pouch and directly connecting it to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. This reduces the body's ability to absorb calories and causes the release of key hormones. A new study, presented at the European Obesity Congress in Malaga, Spain, trialled a pill which works in the same way. It activates an enzyme in the gut to create a temporary coating in the top part of the intestine. Food cannot be absorbed through the coating and it directs it to lower parts of the intestines. Participants feel full before they have absorbed much of the food, so eat less. Researcher Rahul Dhanda, president of Syntis Bio, said: 'We make this to restrict absorption in the top part of the intestine, while the lower part of the intestine remains fully functional and unobstructed. The intestine is two to three metres long and this covers roughly 15cm at the top of it. It's about directing absorption to the lower intestine.' Glucose tolerance tests revealed delayed uptake of glucose and at 30 and 60 minutes, glucose absorption was far lower than in untreated patients. This delay suggests that absorption occurs later in the intestine, as expected, rather than in the coated region of the duodenum. The pilot study was not designed to measure weight loss, but participants receiving a full dose of the pill, currently called SYNT-101, also received blood tests to look at hormones linked to feelings of fullness. They showed elevated levels of leptin and lower levels of ghrelin, consistent with reduced food intake. The early stage trial suggested the drug is safe and the manufacturers believe it will come with fewer, if any, side effects when compared to weight loss injections. However more trials are needed to prove this and if it brings about sustained weight loss. Mr Dhanda said: 'What this does is integrate with the mucosal membrane which is naturally excreted by the body, and this goes along with it. You take the pill once a day in the morning and it should be cleared by the next morning or evening, depending on the patient. 'I anticipate the side effects to be minimal to none, and we haven't seen any yet in human tests. That is because we're not entering the bloodstream like injections do. It's a mechanical molecule so it's like we're inserting a stent, as opposed to a drug that is acting with the target and also off the target.'
