Oxford Medical Products has raised £2.5m ($3.3m) to conduct first human trials of Sirona, a non-surgical weight-loss solution. Sirona is a hydrogel-based technology in a tablet format that, once swallowed, expands in the stomach, stops feelings of hunger and suppresses appetite.
Partnering with Southampton and Bristol University Hospitals, the company will use the funding to run human trials, testing Sirona’s safety and efficacy as a weight-loss solution. The money will also be used to develop line extensions to specifically help patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alongside initial research into a drug delivery platform for the core hydrogel IP.
A similar mechanism of appetite suppression has proven effective in gastric balloon procedures, however these need to be carried out in a hospital and are costly. The tablets can be taken at home and reportedly stay in the stomach for several weeks. According to the company, the tablets work 24/7 before breaking down over time and passing naturally.
Dr Camilla Easter, CEO of Oxford Medical Products, said: “We want to empower people to lead their own weight loss journey, remove the need for invasive or unaffordable treatments, and bring weight-loss solutions to everyone who needs them. Sirona will give people an option that has never been possible before – an easy and affordable way to control appetite and lose weight.”