Gelesis’ Proprietary Superabsorbent Hydrogel Induced Beneficial Changes to the Gut Microbiota and Expanded Akkermansia, a Bacterial Species Associated with Gut Health and Weight Loss, in New Study

Gelesis (NYSE: GLS), a consumer-focused biotherapeutics company and the maker of Plenity®, released today a poster presentation at the World of Microbiome annual meeting in Vienna. The pre-clinical study showed administration of one of the company’s proprietary superabsorbent hydrogels, Gel-B, significantly shifted the composition of the microbiome to a profile correlated with better metabolic health, including improved weight and glucose control. Adding Gel-B to a high-fat diet exponentially encouraged the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacteria associated with thickened mucosal lining of the gut, improved gut barrier function, and lean body mass. Furthermore, benchtop studies indicated that the 3-D structure and unique properties of Gel-B is required to support the increased growth of Akkermansia. These data suggest that superabsorbent hydrogels may offer additional therapeutic mechanisms promoting metabolic health beyond their space occupying properties. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]