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Gelesis

Full company profile

uuid00053wl

Namestring
Gelesis
Legal namestring
Gelesis S.r.l.
Websiteurl
gelesis.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2006
Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersBoston, United States
HQ citystring
Boston
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
weight management device, oral hydrogel technology, medical device manufacturing, obesity treatment products, FDA cleared medical device
NAICS code1 code
  • Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing3391
SIC code1 code
  • Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus3841
Product category
Weight Management Medical Devices
Social media profiles3 records
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model1 record
1Plenity Product Sales
TypeOne Time License
Description

Revenue generated from sales of Plenity, an FDA-cleared and CE-marked oral medical device for weight management. The product is indicated for adults with BMI 25-40 kg/m² when combined with diet and exercise.

gelesis.com
Marketing channels2 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeHardware or Manufacturing
Hardware or Manufacturing
Brand1 record
1Plenity
Description

FDA cleared and CE marked non-systemic medical device for weight management in adults with BMI 25-40 kg/m².

gelesis.com
Core offering1 text field

Gelesis develops, manufactures, and commercializes FDA-cleared oral medical devices based on its proprietary OSH (Oral Superabsorbent Hydrogel) platform. Its lead product, Plenity, is an oral, non-systemic weight management device for adults with BMI 25–40 kg/m² that promotes satiety by expanding in the stomach.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 6 values shown
  • 59% of adults achieved clinically meaningful weight loss averaging 10% (22 pounds) at 24 weeks
+5 more records
Product overview1 text field

Gelesis is a biotechnology company that develops a single product platform—the Gelesis OSH (Oral Superabsorbent Hydrogel) technology—and commercializes it through its flagship product, Plenity. The OSH platform is a biomimetic cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogel designed to work locally in the gastrointestinal tract to influence satiety-related signals and support metabolic health. Plenity, the company's FDA-cleared and CE-marked weight management device, is the primary commercial product derived from this platform, targeting adults with BMI 25-40 kg/m².

Product and service1 record
1Plenity
Scale indicator3 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Recent move5 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight5 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers10 records
1Herbalife
TypeOthers
Description

Direct-selling company offering meal replacement shakes and weight management programs. Adjacent comparability through the consumer weight management value chain, though positioned in nutritional rather than medical-device space.

2Vivus
TypeDirect peer
Description

Specialty pharmaceutical company marketing Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate) for chronic weight management. Closely comparable as an oral, prescription-only weight management therapy competing for the same physician channel.

3Pfizer
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Large pharmaceutical company developing oral GLP-1 candidates (danuglipron) for obesity. Competes broadly in the metabolic disease space with much greater R&D and commercial resources.

4Eli Lilly
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Pharmaceutical incumbent with Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide) for obesity and diabetes. A direct competitor in the medical weight management category with superior efficacy data.

5Novo Nordisk
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Global pharmaceutical leader in obesity and diabetes care with Wegovy (semaglutide) and Ozempic. Sets the standard for medically-supervised weight management against which Plenity competes as a non-systemic alternative.

6Currax Pharmaceuticals
TypeDirect peer
Description

Markets Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) for chronic weight management. Comparable as another oral prescription weight management product targeting adults with elevated BMI.

7Allurion Technologies
TypeEmerging player
Description

Developer of the Allurion Balloon, a swallowable, non-surgical gastric balloon for weight loss. Comparable as a non-pharmaceutical, device-based weight management intervention targeting similar BMI ranges.

8ReShape Lifesciences
TypeEmerging player
Description

Medical device company developing products for weight loss, including the Lap-Band. Comparable as a weight management medical device company targeting the same patient population via physician channels.

9Obalon Therapeutics
TypeEmerging player
Description

Previously commercialized swallowable gas-filled intragastric balloons for weight loss. Comparable as a device-based, non-systemic approach to obesity treatment competing for similar prescribers and patients.

10Medifast
TypeOthers
Description

Provider of the Optavia weight loss program with meal replacement products and coaching. Adjacent as another consumer-facing weight management brand, though focused on lifestyle programs rather than medical devices.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature1 record

Each record includes

Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles4 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
Compliance2 records

Each record includes

Name, Class, Description

Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds12 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors9 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Gelesis

Weight Management Medical Devicesgelesis.com

Gelesis firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Gelesis
Legal name
Gelesis S.r.l.
Website
https://gelesis.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
2006
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Where Gelesis is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Boston
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Gelesis business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components
Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

  1. Plenity Product Sales: Revenue generated from sales of Plenity, an FDA-cleared and CE-marked oral medical device for weight management. The product is indicated for adults with BMI 25-40 kg/m² when combined with diet and exercise.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Gelesis product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Gelesis develops, manufactures, and commercializes FDA-cleared oral medical devices based on its proprietary OSH (Oral Superabsorbent Hydrogel) platform. Its lead product, Plenity, is an oral, non-systemic weight management device for adults with BMI 25–40 kg/m² that promotes satiety by expanding in the stomach.

Product overview

Gelesis is a biotechnology company that develops a single product platform—the Gelesis OSH (Oral Superabsorbent Hydrogel) technology—and commercializes it through its flagship product, Plenity. The OSH platform is a biomimetic cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogel designed to work locally in the gastrointestinal tract to influence satiety-related signals and support metabolic health. Plenity, the company's FDA-cleared and CE-marked weight management device, is the primary commercial product derived from this platform, targeting adults with BMI 25-40 kg/m².

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

  • Plenity: FDA cleared and CE marked non-systemic medical device for weight management in adults with BMI 25-40 kg/m².

Products and services

  • Plenity

Quantifiable outcome

  • 59% of adults achieved clinically meaningful weight loss averaging 10% (22 pounds) at 24 weeks
  • +5 more outcomes

Companies that use Gelesis

Customer profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Gelesis technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Gelesis partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Gelesis competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Others

  • Herbalife: Direct-selling company offering meal replacement shakes and weight management programs. Adjacent comparability through the consumer weight management value chain, though positioned in nutritional rather than medical-device space.
  • Medifast: Provider of the Optavia weight loss program with meal replacement products and coaching. Adjacent as another consumer-facing weight management brand, though focused on lifestyle programs rather than medical devices.

Direct peers

  • Vivus: Specialty pharmaceutical company marketing Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate) for chronic weight management. Closely comparable as an oral, prescription-only weight management therapy competing for the same physician channel.
  • Currax Pharmaceuticals: Markets Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) for chronic weight management. Comparable as another oral prescription weight management product targeting adults with elevated BMI.

Broad incumbents

  • Pfizer: Large pharmaceutical company developing oral GLP-1 candidates (danuglipron) for obesity. Competes broadly in the metabolic disease space with much greater R&D and commercial resources.
  • Eli Lilly: Pharmaceutical incumbent with Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide) for obesity and diabetes. A direct competitor in the medical weight management category with superior efficacy data.
  • Novo Nordisk: Global pharmaceutical leader in obesity and diabetes care with Wegovy (semaglutide) and Ozempic. Sets the standard for medically-supervised weight management against which Plenity competes as a non-systemic alternative.

Emerging players

  • Allurion Technologies: Developer of the Allurion Balloon, a swallowable, non-surgical gastric balloon for weight loss. Comparable as a non-pharmaceutical, device-based weight management intervention targeting similar BMI ranges.
  • ReShape Lifesciences: Medical device company developing products for weight loss, including the Lap-Band. Comparable as a weight management medical device company targeting the same patient population via physician channels.
  • Obalon Therapeutics: Previously commercialized swallowable gas-filled intragastric balloons for weight loss. Comparable as a device-based, non-systemic approach to obesity treatment competing for similar prescribers and patients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Gelesis social profiles

Digital presence

Gelesis compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

Gelesis financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Gelesis leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Gelesis funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds12 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Gelesis M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gelesis

What does Gelesis do?

Gelesis develops, manufactures, and commercializes FDA-cleared oral medical devices based on its proprietary OSH (Oral Superabsorbent Hydrogel) platform. Its lead product, Plenity, is an oral, non-systemic weight management device for adults with BMI 25–40 kg/m² that promotes satiety by expanding in the stomach.

Is Gelesis a public or private company?

Gelesis is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.

When was Gelesis founded?

Gelesis was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Gelesis based?

Gelesis is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.

How does Gelesis make money?

One revenue line is on record: plenity Product Sales.

Who are Gelesis's main competitors?

Others on record are Herbalife and Medifast. Direct peers are Vivus and Currax Pharmaceuticals. Broad incumbents are Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Emerging players are Allurion Technologies, ReShape Lifesciences and Obalon Therapeutics.

Does Gelesis have an API?

No public API is recorded for Gelesis.

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Live signals
RoHow Ro is helping patients achieve their weight loss goalsRo partnered with Gelesis to offer Plenity, a prescription weight management aid, via telehealth. Over 160,000 patients nationwide have used it, with clinical studies showing nearly 60% lost at least 5% of body weight. Ro plans to expand with at-home diagnostics and new treatments.BenzingaAre SPAC Deals Going Out of Flavor? - ProShares Merger ETF (BATS:MRGR)Nineteen SPAC mergers were canceled in 2022 compared to three in the same period in 2021, amid rising investor redemptions that reached 81% in March and new SEC regulatory recommendations adding market uncertainty. Gelesis, a Boston-based pharmaceutical company, merged with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Firm in January 2022 using a $15 million backstop and sponsor share forfeitures, yet 99% of investors withdrew anyway, allowing Gelesis to raise only $105 million against a planned $376 million, after which it laid off 140 advertising personnel. The failed Gelesis deal exemplifies how the once-booming SPAC market has sharply deteriorated, with sponsors during the 2020 peak having been able to acquire 20% equity stakes for as little as $25,000.BenzingaGelesis, Maker Of Weight Loss Pill, Concludes SPAC Deal; Trading Kickstarts Today - Calamos S&P 500 StrucGelesis Inc has completed its SPAC business combination with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp, forming Gelesis Holdings Inc, which begins trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "GLS" today. The transaction generated approximately $105 million in gross proceeds that will primarily support the broad commercial launch of Plenity, Gelesis's FDA-cleared weight management aid. Both Gelesis and Capstar shareholders voted to approve the business combination.BenzingaFDA-Approved Weight Loss Drug Plenity's Parent Announces SPAC Deal: What Investors Should Know - CalamosGelesis, a biotherapeutics company with FDA-approved weight loss drug Plenity, announced a SPAC merger with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp, valuing the combined entity at $1.3 billion with public shareholders retaining 21% ownership. The deal will enable Gelesis to expand manufacturing capacity for Plenity, targeting over 150 million overweight and obese Americans, with production scheduled to reach full capacity by December 2021. The company projects revenue growth from $26 million in fiscal 2021 to $442 million in fiscal 2023, representing a 50% compounded annual growth rate.PR NewswireNew Survey Finds that as Americans Gain Hope for an End to the Pandemic, 116 Million(1) Report a Focus on Wellness in 2021A survey commissioned by Gelesis reveals that 116 million Americans are focusing on wellness in 2021, with many seeking to address weight gained during the pandemic. The study highlights barriers to weight loss such as lack of money and support, while noting significant interest in dietary changes and natural weight management aids like Gelesis's Plenity. These findings reflect a broader shift in American health priorities as the country anticipates a return to normalcy post-pandemic.PR NewswireNew Survey Finds 71 Million Americans Have Gained Weight Throughout the PandemicA new survey commissioned by Gelesis and conducted by Kelton Global reveals that 71 million Americans have gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly three in five Americans now actively trying to lose weight. The survey of 1,012 U.S. adults found that 40 million Americans trying to lose weight would give up social media for the rest of the year to lose 10 pounds, while 63% agree healthy lifestyle habits are harder to maintain during the pandemic. The findings indicate that 60% of respondents want to feel healthier and 51% hope to lose weight in 2021 as the pandemic continues to impact wellness and lifestyle habits.TechCrunchRo makes the weight loss product Plenity commercially available to everyone in the USTelemedicine provider Ro has made Plenity, a weight loss product developed by biotech company Gelesis, commercially available across the United States as the exclusive online provider. Plenity, which received FDA approval in April, is a medical device that uses citric acid and cellulose to expand in the stomach and is targeted at adults with BMI from 25 to 40, covering approximately 150 million Americans. The treatment costs $98 per month, significantly lower than other weight loss therapies that can run $300 to $350 monthly, and Ro's partnership with Gelesis eliminates the need for a traditional pharmaceutical sales force, allowing nationwide distribution through the telemedicine platform.PR NewswireGelesis Picks QualtricsQualtrics announced that biotechnology company Gelesis has selected its BrandXM platform to manage brand experience. This selection integrates with Qualtrics' broader Experience Management category to help organizations monitor competitive landscapes and predict investment impacts on their brand promise.RoRo <> Gelesis: partnering to make Plenity available nationwideRo announced a partnership with Gelesis to launch Plenity nationwide, the first FDA-cleared weight management aid available through both traditional and telehealth services. Plenity, a non-stimulant hydrogel aid, was cleared for adults with BMI 25–42, and clinical trials showed about 60% of patients achieved an average 10% weight loss.MobiHealthNewsRo to launch new weight management serviceRo, a direct-to-consumer virtual health company, is launching Plenity, a weight management product developed with Gelesis. The FDA-cleared Class II device helps users lose an average of 22 pounds and 10% of body weight. The service will be offered on Ro's Roman and Rory platforms, with a launch planned for 2020.