Late December 2009, GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, announced that it has received European CE mark approval for the EndoBarrier, a non-surgical therapy to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The CE marking (an acronym for the French “Conformite Europeenne” or European conformity) certifies that a product has met EU requirements for marketing in Europe.

Features and benefits include:

• The EndoBarrier is implanted and removed endoscopically.

• The implantation can be carried out as a day procedure

• The overall metabolic effect that results from the implantation of the device is similar to the complicated Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgical procedure

• Glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes

• Weight loss

• Procedure is reversible

• Safe alternative to gastric bypass

• Non invasive procedure

• Rapid recovery

• Lower costs

It could be a safe way for those who awaiting surgery to lose weight prior to the surgery.

The EndoBarrier is fundamentally a gastrointestinal impermeable barrier or a gastric sleeve that prevents food from coming in contact with the intestinal wall.

The EndoBarrier Gastric Sleeve is implanted endoscopically through the mouth and is placed in such a way that it lines the first two feet of the small intestine. This helps to prevent easy absorption of food as long as it remains in the sleeve and has huge impact on the person’s intake of nutrients and calories. The digestive enzymes are on the outside of the liner and the food and the digestive juices do not mix until 2 feet downstream in the small intestines.

The EndoBarrier received European CE mark approval for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity in December 2009.

Currently the EndoBarrier is being considered as a prelude to gastric bypass surgery and hence is treated as a temporary fix. But, its future, as a non-surgical alternative to weight loss and diabetes type 2 treatment, is extremely promising.

Clinical trials to date demonstrated a significant weight loss and diabetes improvement achieved with the Endo-Barrier Gastrointestinal Liner.

Undoubtedly we will hear a lot more about this New Obesity Surgery/