Gastrointestinal Liner System Treats Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

The EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner System is intended for people living with type 2 diabetes, obese people at risk for type 2 diabetes, and people with severe weight problems. The nonsurgical medical device is placed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract endoscopically in an oral approach to create a barrier between food and the wall of the intestine. By preventing food from coming into contact with the intestinal wall, the activation of hormonal signals that originate in the intestine can be altered, thus mimicking the effects of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, without surgery.

When in place, the EndoBarrier lines the small intestine just below the pylorus, creating a physical barrier 60 centimeters in length, keeping food from coming in contact with the intestinal wall; the food thus bypasses the duodenum and proximal jejunum, similar to the effects of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. The EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner System is a product of GI Dynamics (Lexington, MA, USA), and has received the European CE Mark of Approval. The company is also developing an EndoBarrier Flow Restrictor, which is designed to further enhance the effectiveness of the liner by doubling the amount of weight-loss that can be achieved using the liner alone.

"Due to its unique profile as a nonsurgical and nonpharmaceutical treatment option, the EndoBarrier appears to provide the benefits of gastric bypass surgery without the complications and risks associated with surgery,” said Jan Willem Greve, M.D., Ph.D., of Atrium Medical Center (Parkstad Heerlen, The Netherlands). "Unlike traditional pharmaceutical approaches, this implantable device removes the burden of dose regimen compliance from the patient. We look forward to having access to the EndoBarrier as a new treatment option in our fight against these epidemics.”

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GI Dynamics