Feasibility trial highlights hydrogel as a promising next-gen obesity tool
Industry Buzz
Sirona has potential as a nonpharmacological treatment for weight management, encompassing initial weight loss and weight-loss maintenance through long-term use, to be tested in larger trials.
—Obesity journal study authors
Obesity treatment continues to evolve—fast. But while GLP-1s dominate headlines, many patients are seeking alternatives that don’t involve injections, high costs, or the potential for systemic side effects.
New research suggests a different tool may be on the horizon: a stomach-expanding hydrogel called Sirona. []
A different kind of satiety support
Hydrogels have been used safely for years, valued for being biochemically inert. Sirona takes that one step further: It’s a dual-network polymer that expands in the stomach, helping patients feel fuller sooner and potentially eat less.
In a first-in-human randomized, double-blind trial across three UK centers, investigators tested how feasible and tolerable an oral hydrogel could be in adults aged 18–65 with a BMI of 30–40.
Participants took the capsules once every other day at first, increasing to a maximum of two pills daily with water on an empty stomach. After 12 weeks of blinded treatment, all patients continued open-label Sirona for an additional 12 weeks.
Related: A 'unique hormone' is the new weight loss contenderReal-world friendly adherence
The early feasibility data is encouraging: More than 95% of participants adhered to dosing, nearly 95% completed the first 12 weeks, and almost 90% stayed on through the full 24-week course.
Most patients found the pills easy to swallow. Side effects were primarily mild gastrointestinal symptoms, none requiring intervention, and no serious adverse events were reported.
Weight-loss and intake improvements
By week 12, patients taking Sirona experienced a 3.8% mean reduction in total body weight compared with 1.0% for those taking placebo. Continued use through 24 weeks resulted in even greater benefit, with an average weight loss of 4.4% from baseline.
Mean daily calorie intake also dropped substantially in the Sirona group—by about 382 kcal per day at 12 weeks—and this reduction was maintained through the extension phase.
“Sirona has potential as a nonpharmacological treatment for weight management, encompassing initial weight loss and weight-loss maintenance through long-term use, to be tested in larger trials,” the study authors noted.
Where could this fit in clinical care?
If validated in larger studies, Sirona could offer:
A non-drug, non-invasive option for patients hesitant about pharmacotherapy
A tool for early-stage obesity or those who plateau on lifestyle changes
A possible adjunct for maintenance once initial weight goals are reached
Keep this emerging modality on your radar—especially for patients who want alternatives to GLP-1 agonists or who have contraindications to current pharmacologic and procedural therapies. Hydrogels may soon expand the obesity-treatment toolbox without adding metabolic complexity.