An Oral Pill to Mimic Gastric Bypass Surgery

Development of an Oral Pill to Mimic the Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

NIH-funded research Syntis Bio INC · NIH-11249883

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 typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSyntis Bio INC NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11249883 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have obesity or related metabolic conditions would not directly benefit from this specific weight loss intervention.

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 performed: 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

Boston, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions CancersCardiovascular Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.