Epitomee Medical Ltd. announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially cleared the Epitomee® Capsule, a cutting-edge ingestible medical device designed to support weight management in adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25–40 kg/m² alongside diet and exercise. This novel, drug-free treatment provides a new option for millions of health-conscious individuals in the U.S.
The Epitomee® Capsule represents an innovative prescription option in weight management solutions, offering a drug-free alternative that differs from injectable treatments. With FDA clearance extending to adults with a BMI starting at 25, Epitomee® Capsule is accessible to a broader range of patients looking for tolerable and easy to use weight management solutions.
The Epitomee® device is encased in a standard size, self-administered ingestible capsule. Once the Epitomee® Capsule is swallowed, and reaches the stomach it absorbs water in the stomach and creates a three-dimensional matrix designed to occupy volume in the stomach creating a sensation of fullness, enabling weight loss. The Epitomee® Capsule mechanism of action is purely mechanical and does not involve any chemical activity. The capsule works directly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Epitomee® Capsule was cleared by the U.S. FDA following the RESET study: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-canter trial. The study enrolled 279 overweight and obese adults with and without prediabetes. All 9 sites enrolled in the study were in the US, located across 9 different states.
Eligible subjects were randomized to test or placebo arms. Subjects were to take one capsule of the investigational device or placebo twice daily , alongside diet and exercise, for a period of 24 weeks. The study demonstrated that both co-primary endpoints were successfully met. The RESET study demonstrated significantly better weight loss among the device group compared to the control group (P<0.0001). The co-primary endpoint of treatment responders was also achieved: the rate of Epitomee treatment group subjects whose total body weight was reduced by at least 5% at 24-weeks post randomization was 55.5% (CI; 46.1-64.6), significantly exceeding the threshold of >35% (P<0.0001).
The study demonstrated a favourable safety profile of Epitomee® treatment throughout the study duration. Epitomee® treatment was well tolerated, with fewer patient dropouts in Epitomee® group than the control group. There were no serious adverse device effects (SADEs) in the study. In addition, subjects treated with Epitomee® showed better improvement in quality of life in several items of the IWQOL-Lite-CT questionnaire.
The company also performed an additional study in 3 out of the 9 sites that participated in the RESET study, the ELECT study. In this study subjects from both the device group and the placebo group kept on taking the Epitomee® capsule for an additional 24 week period. The study demonstrated a favourable safety profile of Epitomee® treatment throughout the 48 weeks of the study duration for subjects in the device group.
Shimon Eckhouse PhD co-founder and chairman of the board, commented on the approval: "The FDA clearance of the Epitomee® Capsule marks a significant milestone in the field of weight management. Its innovative approach offers a safe and effective option for patients. The ability to manage weight through a simple, drug free capsule opens up new possibilities for those seeking to improve their health and quality of life."
Dan Hashimshony PhD, CEO of Epitomee Medical Ltd., commented: "We are proud to have received FDA clearance for our Epitomee® weight management Oral, Drug-Free solution. This achievement is the result of the innovative approach we have taken to tackle the global obesity epidemic. Our capsule offers a safe, effective, and drug-free solution to the many millions of individuals struggling with weight management. As we move forward, we are eager to bring this groundbreaking product to the U.S. market and seek strategic partnerships to fully realize its commercial potential."
For more information please visit https://epitomeemedical.com/