‘Gastric bypass pill' causes weight loss without side effects: Study
Researchers say the SYNT-101 pill, developed by Boston-based Syntis Bio, mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery while preserving muscle mass better than GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
The pill forms a film on the small intestine that redirects nutrient exposure to the lower intestine and gives patients a feeling of fullness — effectively mimicking gastric bypass surgery, which reroutes a person's intestines.
The coating lasts up to 24 hours before it's expelled from the body.
Who is eligible for weight loss medication?
'A lot remains to be seen with these medications, but the studies that we've seen so far look really promising,' said Dr. Jessica Duncan, an obesity medicine physician.
The pill led to consistent weight loss and maintained lean muscle mass in rodent trials, and the first human study confirmed the pill formed a film and was safely cleared from the body within a day.
'These data further validate the potential of SYNT-101 as a convenient once-daily oral alternative or complement to GLP-1 drugs, which often involve substantial costs, severe side effects such as muscle loss and long-term maintenance issues despite high efficacy rates,' said Rahul Dhanda, CEO of Syntis, in a statement.
Are weight loss drugs safe? Learn some of the side effects
The study has limitations. The human trial only examined effects on nine patients who took one dose.
Patients included seven women and two men between 24 and 53 who were not considered obese.
'So in that small group of people, they had no side effects, no serious or adverse events, and they didn't have any gastrointestinal side effects,' Duncan said. 'But with nine people, it's really hard to tell.'
Duncan said the pill's safety profile will be developed in upcoming clinical trials. She told NewsNation that, whether weight loss is coming from a pill, surgery or injection, it's important to preserve muscle mass and eat well.
'Medications are super helpful for correcting the biological causes of obesity, but you have to make those lifestyle changes as well,' Duncan added.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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