Obesity Devices: The Next Wave

Several emerging medtechs are developing products and procedures that are less invasive, less expensive, easier to deliver, and more easily reversible than bariatric surgery. With support from investors and the FDA, these firms are poised to reap big rewards in the massive, undermet obesity market.

The FDA's January 2015 approval of EnteroMedics Inc.’s Maestro, a neuromodulation device that blocks vagus nerve impulses to control feelings of hunger and facilitate weight loss, has illustrated the need for more weapons in the fight against obesity. For some time we have had bariatric surgery options such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, as well as Apollo Endosurgery Inc.'s Lap-Band adjustable gastric band system – but surgery has its drawbacks and is limited to certain patients.

Traditional surgery carries a higher risk of side effects or even death, is associated with longer recovery times, and also doesn’t come cheap: gastric banding costs $10,000 to $17,000, while...

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