An Oral Pill to Mimic Gastric Bypass Surgery
Official title: Development of an Oral Pill to Mimic the Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Funded at Syntis Bio INC · NIH-11249883 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a new oral pill designed to help people with obesity lose weight and improve their health, similar to the effects of gastric bypass surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Syntis Bio INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $916,400 |
| NIH project number | 4R44DK141341-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249883 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is ultimately intended for patients living with obesity who are seeking effective weight loss solutions and improvements in related health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have obesity or related metabolic conditions would not directly benefit from this specific weight loss intervention.
What this research studies
Obesity is a widespread health issue that can lead to serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. While gastric bypass surgery is very effective for weight loss, it comes with high costs and risks, making it inaccessible for many. Current weight loss medications and devices often don't offer the right balance of effectiveness and affordability. Our goal is to develop a safe, affordable, and highly effective oral pill that works by creating a temporary barrier in the intestine to block nutrient absorption, much like surgery does.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this oral pill could offer a non-surgical, accessible, and effective option for significant weight loss and improvement in obesity-related health conditions.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel, leveraging technology licensed from MIT to create a unique oral barrier, though the concept of blocking nutrient absorption for weight loss is established through gastric bypass surgery.
Where this research is happening
-
Syntis Bio INC
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sethuraman, Vasu V — Syntis Bio INC
- Study coordinator: Sethuraman, Vasu V
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.