FDA Approves REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Band For Morbid Obesity

FDA approved Ethicon Endo-Surgery's REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Band, a surgical implant for weight reduction and improvement in obesity-related health conditions, such as type-2 diabetes, in individuals suffering from morbid obesity.

The REALIZE Band is an innovative device intended for use in weight reduction for patients with morbid obesity and is indicated for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40 kg/m2, or a BMI of at least 35 kg/m2 with one or more co-morbid conditions. It is for use in morbidly obese adult patients who have failed more conservative weight-reduction alternatives, such as supervised diet, exercise and behavior modification programs.

In the multi-center U.S. clinical trial of 276 patients with the REALIZE Band, patients who completed the three-year U.S. clinical trial (n=228) lost an average of 42.8 percent of their excess body weight. Thirty-five percent of patients who completed the three-year trial lost 50 percent or more of excess body weight and 10.5 percent lost 75 percent or more of excess body weight. The most commonly reported adverse events after surgery during the U.S. clinical trial were nausea, vomiting, constipation and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Only nine (3.3 percent) patients experienced a serious adverse event that was considered unanticipated and related to the REALIZE Band.

"This rigorous clinical trial showed patients using the REALIZE Band experienced significant weight loss within the first year, which remained steady over three years," said Ed Phillips, MD, FACS, principal investigator in the REALIZE Band clinical trial and Director of the Center for Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "This procedure, combined with the proper support system and a commitment to dietary and lifestyle changes after surgery helped these patients achieve long-term weight loss and improvement in many obesity-related conditions."

In the REALIZE Band clinical trial, patients reported improvements in various aspects of their quality of life including better general health one year after surgery. Significant improvement in vitality, mental health and social functioning was reported at three years after surgery, and reduction in bodily pain and increased ability to complete daily and work activities three years after surgery were also reported.

"Obesity is a serious disease, and as a company we're committed to providing more than products to address this worldwide epidemic; we provide bariatric solutions that can help people realize their health goals and live longer and healthier lives regardless of which surgical option may be right for them," said Kevin Lobo, president, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, U.S. "With the approval of the REALIZE Band, Ethicon Endo-Surgery is the only global healthcare company to provide a complete range of bariatric surgical solutions to surgeons and their patients."