Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. has announced the publication of the results of a landmark ESG Randomized Interventional Trial (MERIT) Study in The Lancet.
While bariatric surgery is the most successful treatment for obesity, many patients avoid surgery due to its perceived invasive nature and fear of complications. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a less invasive, incisionless procedure that utilizes an endoscopic suturing system (OverStitch®) to reduce the volume of the stomach and delay the emptying of the stomach, resulting in clinically meaningful, durable weight loss.
The MERIT study involved 152 subjects with a Body Mass Index of ≥30 and ≤40 kg/m² who were undergoing ESG, and found a 49.2% excess body weight loss at 12 months in the treatment group, as well as improvements in quality of life, eating behaviors, and depression.
‘’I have felt for a long-time endoscopic surgery will have a significant impact on the treatment of obesity’’, commented Mr. Jamie Kelly, a leading bariatric surgeon at the Spire Southampton Hospital. “An incisionless procedure will help break down the perceived stigma of surgery, allowing more patients access to help and improve lives.’’
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