Elcella: London scientists develop 'all-natural' alternative to weight loss jabs

London scientists have developed a ‘natural alternative’ to weight loss jabs (Photo: Adobe)London scientists have developed a ‘natural alternative’ to weight loss jabs (Photo: Adobe)
London scientists have developed a ‘natural alternative’ to weight loss jabs (Photo: Adobe) | ryanking999 - stock.adobe.com
The Elcella pill unlocks the body’s naturally occurring hormones in the colon, to send ‘fullness’ messages to the brain, leading to lower food intake and reducing cravings between meals.

A new, all-natural pill developed by British scientists is set to mark a significant new chapter in weight management products.

The new product is poised to disrupt a market dominated by artificial drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

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Named Elcella, the twice-daily capsule is set to be a major disrupter in the rapidly growing anti-obesity market.

Helping you to feel full

In a never before seen approach, it unlocks the body’s naturally occurring hormones in the colon, to send ‘fullness’ messages to the brain, leading to lower food intake and reducing cravings between meals.

By unlocking these hormones naturally, for the first time ever it is possible to improve the strength of messages from the gut to the brain which act to reduce appetite. The pills are completely natural, made of oils derived from vegetables and without side-effects.

Developed by gut scientists in London

Dr Madusha PeirisDr Madusha Peiris
Dr Madusha Peiris | Submitted

Developed over the last ten years by leading British gut scientists Dr. Madusha Peiris and Dr. Rubina Aktar from Queen Mary University, London, the product comes amid a surge of next generation approaches to solving the global obesity epidemic.

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The idea that cells in the colon can respond to nutrients and release hormones that have a direct link to the brain to impact on the appetite was only recently discovered through scientific research. Elcella is the first and only product in the world to harness this science to create a unique product on the market.

The release of Elcella marks a new chapter in weight management products, amid a growing obesity epidemic in the UK, with more than 25% of British adults classed as obese.

This has resulted in a significant increase of obesity-related conditions and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive issues, type-2 diabetes and a number of cancers, which have combined to put enormous pressure on an already stretched National Health Service.

Other recently-launched weight management products, like Wegovy and Mounjaro, work by flooding the body with pharmacologically-created, synthetic drugs that make you feel less hungry or full.

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These products are available only on prescription and are expensive with a year’s worth of product costing around £4,000, with usage typically limited to two years. Pharma-free pill Elcella instead adopts a nutrient-based approach and will be available on general sale for less than half the price.

What are the ingredients?

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Now available to select participants on a scientific trial, the vegan-friendly, all natural capsule contains just three ingredients, Linseed Oil (commonly known as Flaxseed Oil), Coconut Oil and MCT Oil (medium-chain triglycerides, commonly found in coconut oil).

The nutrients in these twice-daily unique pills are carried down the digestive system until they reach the colon.

Once there, the medium-chain fatty acids in the nutrients trigger the colon into substantially increasing release of the appetite-reducing hormones GLP-1 and PYY from the L-cells in the intestines, making people feel full.

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A proof-of-concept clinical trial for Elcella showed a 18% reduction in calorie intake in obese participants, supporting its potential effectiveness in appetite regulation and weight management.

‘Eat less and lose weight’

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Elcella founder and CEO, Dr Madusha Peiris, said: “We’re scientists who made a surprising discovery, which could result in major public health benefits.

“We found that a specific combination of nutrients will trigger the hormones that make you feel full – so you eat less and lose weight. It’s exciting because this is an important pathway that goes wrong in obesity. Our bodies use hormones activated by nutrients to tell our brains when to stop eating.

“The tragedy of obesity is this mechanism stops working – you lose much of your ability to tell when you’re full. Our discovery meant we had a new way to help people get back to a healthy weight.”

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The avant-garde development represents a meaningful step forward in our treatment options of obesity, making effective weight management solutions more accessible to a wider range of people.

Dr Peiris added: “We differ from weight-loss drugs in that Elcella releases your own naturally occurring appetite-reducing hormones rather than replacing them with synthetic hormones.

“Because it releases a natural process, we’ve not seen any side effects in three clinical trials. Unlike weight-loss drugs, which can cause nausea, insomnia and high blood pressure – among other unpleasant side effects. It also means we can give it to you via a twice-daily pill, whereas weight-loss drugs are usually injected.”

“People often talk about weight-loss as a fight against their own body – but we’re getting your body back on your side.”

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About the scientists

Dr. Rubina AktarDr. Rubina Aktar
Dr. Rubina Aktar | Submitted

Elcella was developed by leading scientists Dr. Madusha Peiris and Dr. Rubina Aktar at Queen Mary University, London, a well-respected and globally-renowned university with a history of innovation.

Dr Peiris has more than 15 years of research experience and is a world-leading scientist. A Senior Lecturer in Enteric Neurobiology, based at Queen Mary University of London, her research focuses on understanding the complex interplay between what we eat and the gut, brain and microbiome.

Elcella’s COO, Dr Aktar, also has a PhD in Enteric Neuroscience from Queen Mary University, and has worked with Dr Peiris for a decade in the field of gut neurobiology.

Elcella’s COO, Dr Rubina Aktar, said:With the soaring popularity of drugs like Ozempic, the market is ripe for disruption. Those drugs have proved their efficacy, but never before has there been a natural alternative like Elcella that works with the body’s natural processes.

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Our product is an important new strategy that will help tackle the growing global crisis of obesity, and alleviate pressure on the NHS.”

To find out more about Elcella and how you can join the trial, visit their website: elcella.com.

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