Private company

Gelesis

Logo: Gelesis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

American biotechnology company

Gelesis is a biotechnology company located in Boston, Massachusetts that developed the weight loss device Gelesis100 (Plenity) for use in overweight and obesity. The company produces Gelesis100, which is a superabsorbent hydrogel capsule that expands in the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness, helping people reduce the amount of food they eat.3 From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 19, 2026.

Overview

2008Founded1
  • Industrybiotechnology1
  • HeadquartersBoston1
  • Websitewww.gelesis.com
  • Incorporated inDE5
  • Business address500 Boylston Street, Suite 1600, Boston, Ma 021165
  • Legal formCorporation

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Gelesis is a biotechnology company located in Boston, Massachusetts that developed the weight loss device Gelesis100 (Plenity) for use in overweight and obesity. The company produces Gelesis100, which is a superabsorbent hydrogel capsule that expands in the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness, helping people reduce the amount of food they eat. The company was founded in 2006 to develop medical devices and treatments for obesity.3

Financials

From the company’s reports to the SEC. Every number links to the filing it came from.

Key numbers, fiscal 2022

-472.7%Operating margin7
-216.5%Net margin7
130.4%Revenue growth, 20227
-$86.8MFree cash flow7

Where the money goes

Where each dollar of revenue went, fiscal 2022

  • Cost of revenue19¢$27.6M
  • Research and development13¢$18.6M
  • Selling, general and admin68¢$99.1M
  • Interest1¢$991.0K
  • Income tax0¢$480.0K

Out of $25.8M in revenue.7 The company lost money this year.

Financial statements

Revenue7$25.8M in 2022+130% since 2021
0$10.0M$20.0M$30.0M2021: $11.2M$11.2M20212022: $25.8M$25.8M2022+130%
Operating income7-$121.8M in 2022+43% since 2021
-$150.0M-$100.0M-$50.0M02021: -$85.0M-$85.0M20212022: -$121.8M-$121.8M2022+43%
Net income7-$55.8M in 2022−40% since 2021
-$100.0M-$75.0M-$50.0M-$25.0M02021: -$93.3M-$93.3M20212022: -$55.8M-$55.8M2022−40%
Fiscal year202020212022
Revenue$11.2M7$25.8M7
Cost of revenue$10.0M7$27.6M7
Research and development$12.9M7$18.6M7
Selling, general and admin$71.0M7$99.1M7
Operating expenses$96.2M7$147.6M7
Operating income-$85.0M7-$121.8M7
Interest$1.4M7$991.0K7
Income before tax-$93.3M7-$55.3M7
Income tax$17.0K7$480.0K7
Net income-$93.3M7-$55.8M7
Earnings per share-$32.897-$1.357
Earnings per share (diluted)-$32.897-$1.357
Shares (weighted, basic)5.7M shares770.3M shares7
Shares (weighted, diluted)5.7M shares770.3M shares7

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The story

Gelesis was founded by PureTech Ventures, a life sciences venture firm based in Boston, and ExoTech Bio, an Israel-based research and development company. The company operates as an affiliate of PureTech Health. Former PureTech Ventures partner Yishai Zohar co-founded the company and served as CEO.

The company's technology was co-invented by Alessandro Sannino, a professor of engineering at the University of Salento, who began researching the idea prior to the launch of Gelesis.

In 2010, the company passed the first human trials of its treatment. The company’s product was originally called Attiva, but was later renamed Gelesis100.

In January 2022, the company completed a business combination with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. and commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GLS."

From Wikipedia’s article on Gelesis, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.6

Leadership

Who has led Gelesis, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chief executive

  1. Robert Steven Hicks2020
  2. Yishai Zohar2022

Chair

  1. Robert Steven Hicks2020

President

  1. Yishai Zohar2022

Chief financial officer

  1. Robert Steven Hicks2020
  2. Elliot Maltz2022
2010201520202025
Board members and other officers (14)

Named in SEC Form D filings

People the company listed in its private-offering notices.

  • Executive OfficerDavid L. Abraham named Aug 24, 202227
  • Executive OfficerDavid Pass named Aug 24, 202227

Timeline

  1. Jan 24, 2022New chief executive Yishai Zohar becomes CEO11
  2. Jul 1, 2020New chief executive Robert Steven Hicks becomes CEO12
  3. 2008Founded Founded1

Filings

194 filings to the SEC since October 2021: 5 annual reports, 6 quarterly reports, 42 major events, 40 insider forms, 27 large holders, 1 private raises, 73 other. The latest 20:

  1. Oct 31, 20238-K EDGAR
  2. Oct 19, 2023CT ORDER EDGAR
  3. Oct 16, 2023SC 13D/A EDGAR
  4. Oct 16, 20238-K EDGAR
  5. Sep 29, 2023PRER14A EDGAR
  6. Sep 21, 2023SC 13D/A EDGAR
  7. Sep 21, 20234 EDGAR
  8. Sep 20, 20238-K EDGAR
  9. Sep 7, 2023PRER14A EDGAR
  10. Sep 6, 20238-K EDGAR
  11. Aug 21, 20238-K EDGAR
  12. Aug 14, 202310-Q EDGAR
  13. Jul 25, 2023PREM14A EDGAR
  14. Jul 12, 20238-K EDGAR
  15. Jun 30, 2023DEFA14A EDGAR
  16. Jun 29, 2023SC 13D/A EDGAR
  17. Jun 29, 20238-K EDGAR
  18. Jun 26, 2023DEF 14A EDGAR
  19. Jun 14, 20234 FORM 4 SUBMISSION EDGAR
  20. Jun 13, 2023SC 13D/A EDGAR

The 194 filings since October 2021 can be filtered by form type and year here when JavaScript is on.

Every filing from the last five years, summarized. The full record is on SEC EDGAR.

Major holders

Investors who own more than 5% of the shares must tell the SEC: a 13D if they may seek to influence the company, a 13G if they hold passively.

Money raised

Private offerings the company reported to the SEC on Form D.

  1. Aug 11, 2022Raised $575,684 in a private offering of equity Form D: $50.6 million offered in all Form D

Sources

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