BOSTON– Gelesis announced today that leading U.S. direct-to-patient healthcare company Ro has placed a $30 million fully paid pre-order for the company’s first commercial product for weight management, Plenity®. Plenity was initially made available through a beta launch in 2020, and demand quickly outpaced supply while Gelesis worked to construct a larger manufacturing facility. Gelesis’ first commercial-scale manufacturing line at the facility is now complete and validated.
As Gelesis’ exclusive telehealth partner in the U.S., Ro provides patients with access to telehealth options for weight management including the ability to communicate with a healthcare provider and, if safe and appropriate, to receive a prescription for Plenity through myplenity.com and Ro’s digital clinics. The telehealth experience complements in-person healthcare provider care (available through any provider and powered by GoGoMeds), making it easier for people to seek treatment on their own time and their own terms.
The first month of the beta launch, in October 2020, demand exceeded the limited manufacturing supply. Since then, Gelesis has sold as much product as it can make and nearly 70,000 people have started their weight management journey with Plenity through Ro’s platform. Ro projects Plenity will have 1,500% YoY revenue growth (Dec. 2020 to Dec. 2021) and anticipates weight management will continue to be among the company’s top treatment requests on the Ro platform. From a random sample of 20,000 people taking Plenity, over 90% had tried at least two weight loss methods before Plenity, with previous attempts including weight loss plans, specialized diets, and prescription weight loss medications. Given the widespread frustrations with other weight loss methods as well as the bias, stigmatization, and insurance challenges that often hinder care, Gelesis is committed to expanding access to its weight management treatment. Notably, over 50% of early members surveyed say they would not have otherwise gone to their doctor for a prescription.
“Our beta launch demonstrated the high level of pent-up demand for a unique product like Plenity. Ro has been a terrific partner and worked collaboratively with us to build out a patient-centric user experience for people looking for help with their weight,” said David Pass, Pharm.D., Chief Operating & Commercial Officer at Gelesis. “Each month we have been selling as much as we can make, and with this pre-order and our manufacturing facility coming on-line, we are excited to build on the momentum and help more and more people achieve their goals.”
“Gelesis and Ro set out on a shared mission to expand access to high-quality treatment for those patients seeking support in weight management goals—and we’ve done just that for tens of thousands of patients who receive Plenity through Ro’s platform,” said Zachariah Reitano, co-founder and CEO of Ro. “Today, we are thrilled to expand this partnership through additional supply of Plenity—guaranteeing the ability to help patients across the country with the treatment and the tools they need.”
Plenity is the first therapeutic superabsorbent hydrogel of its kind and is made entirely from naturally derived building blocks. This first commercial scale manufacturing line represents a major research and development milestone for Gelesis. This first line in the new state-of-the-art facility has just been completed and two additional lines are in construction. Gelesis anticipates that once all lines are completed, the facility will be capable of supplying growing demand through 2023.
Plenity is designed to help people feel satisfied with smaller portions so they can lose weight. It is FDA-cleared to aid in weight management in adults with excess weight or obesity, Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 40 kg/m², when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. It is taken orally as three capsules with 16 oz. of water twice a day, 20 minutes before lunch and dinner. If a dose is missed it can be taken with the meal or immediately following the meal. Plenity is not a drug, non-systemic, and not habit forming. It uses a novel biomimetic approach inspired by the composition and mechanical properties of vegetables.
Ro currently powers digital health clinics that provide a personalized end-to-end telehealth experience from medical diagnosis to the delivery of prescriptions and over-the-counter products. Plenity is the only weight management treatment available through Ro’s digital clinics. Ro’s portfolio currently includes treatment for sexual health, dermatology, mental health, fertility and more.
Gelesis and Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: CPSR) announced in July that they entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company’s securities are expected to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GLS.”
