# Gelesis > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gelesis > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gelesis.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelesis > Source revision: 1356499961 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Gelesis** is a biotechnology company located in [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston,_Massachusetts) that developed the weight loss device [Gelesis100](/source/Gelesis100) (Plenity) for use in [overweight](/source/Overweight) and [obesity](/source/Obesity). The company produces Gelesis100, which is a superabsorbent [hydrogel](/source/Hydrogel) capsule that expands in the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness, helping people reduce the amount of food they eat.[1][2] The company was founded in 2006 to develop [medical devices](/source/Medical_devices) and treatments for obesity.[3] Gelesis Holdings, Inc. together with its two affiliates, filed for voluntary Chapter 7 liquidation in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on October 30, 2023. The debtor listed its assets among the 50 and the $100 million and liabilities of $44.34 million. The Debtor is represented by Kenneth Listwak of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP as counsel. ## History Gelesis was founded by PureTech Ventures, a life sciences venture firm based in Boston,[3][1] and ExoTech Bio, an Israel-based research and development company.[4] The company operates as an affiliate of [PureTech Health](/source/PureTech_Health).[5][6] Former PureTech Ventures partner Yishai Zohar co-founded the company and served as CEO.[4] The company's technology was co-invented by Alessandro Sannino, a professor of engineering at the [University of Salento](/source/University_of_Salento), who had been researching the idea prior to the launch of Gelesis.[1] In January 2008, the company raised $16 million in its first financing round, led by [OrbiMed Advisors](/source/OrbiMed_Advisors) and Queensland BioCapital Funds.[4] In 2010, the company passed the first human trials of its treatment.[1][7] The company’s product was originally called Attiva, but was later renamed Gelesis100.[8] In 2014, Gelesis raised $12 million in its fifth funding round, bringing its total funding to $42 million.[9][10] In March 2015, the company closed a $22 million funding round.[11] In April 2015, the company announced an initial public offering (IPO) for $60 million,[12] but pulled out later that year.[13][14] In December 2015, Gelesis raised $31.5 million shortly after cancelling its IPO.[15][14] In 2018, Gelesis raised $30 million in preparation for regulatory submissions in the U.S. and Europe and initial marketing of Gelesis100.[16][17] In January 2022, the company completed a business combination with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. and commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GLS."[18] ## References 1. Timmerman, Luke (April 22, 2010). ["Obesity Capsule From Gelesis, Made to Swell Up in the Stomach, Passes First Human Trial"](https://www.xconomy.com/boston/2010/04/22/obesity-capsule-from-gelesis-made-to-swell-up-in-the-stomach-passes-first-human-trial/?single_page=true). *Xconomy* 1. Pollack, Andrew (23 June 2014). ["Early Results Arrive on Weight-Loss Pills That Expand in the Stomach"](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/business/early-results-arrive-on-weight-loss-pills-that-expand-in-the-stomach.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Gelesis raises $12 million for pill that staves off hunger"](http://betaboston.com/news/2014/05/16/gelesis-raises-12-million-for-hunger-pill/). *BetaBoston.com*. May 16, 2014. 1. ["Xconomy: Obesity Startup Gelesis Gobbles Up $16M in Financing"](https://www.xconomy.com/boston/2008/01/03/obesity-startup-gelesis-gobbles-up-16m-in-financing/). *Xconomy*. 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. Letter, The Pharma. ["Gelesis raises $30 million to fund novel weight loss therapy"](https://www.thepharmaletter.com/article/gelesis-raises-30-million-to-fund-novel-weight-loss-therapy). *www.thepharmaletter.com*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. Reuters Editorial. ["PureTech's Gelesis says obesity drug achieved weight loss in study"](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-puretech-health-gelesis-study/puretechs-gelesis-says-obesity-drug-achieved-weight-loss-in-study-idUSKCN1C00PD). *U.S.*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Anti-Obesity Pill Swells in Your Stomach, Making You Full Before You Even Start Eating"](https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-04/obesity-pill-swells-your-stomach-making-you-full-you-even-start-eating). *Popular Science*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Hydrogel 'smart pill' shows promise as weight loss aid"](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278703.php). *Medical News Today*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["The Daily Startup: Medtronic Spinout Raises $40M to Treat Sleep Apnea"](https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2014/05/16/the-daily-startup-medtronic-spinout-raises-40m-to-treat-sleep-apnea/). *WSJ.com*. May 16, 2014. 1. ["Xconomy: Gelesis Resurfaces With $12M, Preps First Weight Loss Data"](https://www.xconomy.com/boston/2014/05/16/gelesis-resurfaces-with-12m-preps-first-weight-loss-data/). *Xconomy*. 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2018-09-27. 1. ["Boston weight-loss biotech Gelesis raises $22M"](https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/bioflash/2015/03/boston-weight-loss-biotech-gelesis-raises-22.html). *www.bizjournals.com*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Term Sheet -- Thursday, April 2"](http://fortune.com/2015/04/02/term-sheet-thursday-april-2/). *Fortune*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Company with obesity treatment raises $31.5M on heels of withdrawn IPO"](https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/health-care/2015/12/company-with-obesity-treatment-raises-31-5m-on.html). *www.bizjournals.com*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Gelesis drops IPO, raises $31.5M for pivotal U.S. trial of hydrogel weight-loss capsule | FierceBiotech"](https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medical-devices/gelesis-drops-ipo-raises-31-5m-for-pivotal-u-s-trial-hydrogel-weight-loss-capsule). *www.fiercebiotech.com*. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. ["Xconomy: Months After Postponed IPO, Gelesis Nabs $31.5M And a New Investor"](https://www.xconomy.com/boston/2015/12/18/months-after-postponed-ipo-gelesis-nabs-31-5m-and-a-new-investor/). *Xconomy*. 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2018-09-28. 1. Herper, Matthew. ["In Two Months, Biotech Startups Raised More Money Than In All Of 2013"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2018/03/05/in-two-months-biotech-startups-raised-more-money-than-in-all-of-2013/#2a483a727be7). *Forbes*. Retrieved 2018-03-05. 1. ["Gelesis raises $30M to gear up for weight loss launch | FierceBiotech"](https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/gelesis-raises-30m-to-gear-up-for-weight-loss-launch). *www.fiercebiotech.com*. Retrieved 2018-03-05. 1. ["Gelesis®, the Maker of Plenity® for Weight Management, Will Debut as a Publicly Traded Company Following the Closing of Its Business Combination with Capstar"](https://ir.gelesis.com/news/news-details/2022/Gelesis-the-Maker-of-Plenity-for-Weight-Management-Will-Debut-as-a-Publicly-Traded-Company-Following-the-Closing-of-Its-Business-Combination-with-Capstar/default.aspx). *ir.gelesis.com*. Retrieved 2022-01-18. ## External links - [http://www.gelesis.com/](http://www.gelesis.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gelesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelesis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelesis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.