Bariatric artery embolization may improve weight loss in obesity patients, claims study

A recent clinical trial named BEATLES showed the potential of the procedure known as bariatric arterial embolization (BAE) using novel, custom-engineered radiopaque microspheres, BTG-001933 that was developed by Boston Scientific. The key findings of this study were presented in the SIRpass summit and the abstract was published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology

This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this innovative treatment in patients with obesity. The BEATLES trial was approved by both the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the FDA to explore an alternative solution for weight loss in patients with class II-III obesity. This trial commenced in October 2020 included individuals of 21 to 70 years with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥35 kg/m^2 and weighing ≤400 lbs.

The procedure involves the embolization of the left gastric artery and in some cases, the gastroepiploic artery by utilizing BTG-001933 microspheres that are 100-200µm in size. This technique aimed to reduce blood flow to the stomach by decreasing hunger and promoting weight loss. The pilot phase of the clinical trial concluded with a one-year follow-up in December 2023, revealing promising outcomes.

The trial reported 100% technical success in the procedures performed on ten participants, with no major adverse events observed. Minor complications included a healing mucosal ulcer and a vascular access site pseudoaneurysm and deemed unrelated to the procedure. Also, the participants showed significant weight loss and BMI reduction over the 12-month period where the MRI scans indicated a reduction in subcutaneous and intra-muscular fat while preserving the muscle mass.

This approach highlights the potential for significant weight loss and emphasizes the importance of muscle preservation during the process. The use of BTG-001933 microspheres demonstrates increased efficacy when compared to the other embolic agents used in previous studies that offer a safer and more effective treatment option for severe obesity.

The BEATLES trial paves the way for effective obesity management that suggests BAE could soon become a potential alternative for the individuals who seek muscle-sparing weight loss. Further research and larger trials are mandated to confirm these findings and potentially offer a new lease on life for individuals with obesity.

Reference:

Khalil, A., Bosworth, E., Giraldo Herrera, D., Memenza, R., Yuan, F., Linge, J., Holly, B., Liddell, R., & Weiss, C. (2024). Abstract No. 218 Bariatric Embolization of ArTeries with imaging visibLe EmbolicS (BEATLES): Pilot Study. In Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (Vol. 35, Issue 3, pp. S98–S99). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2023.12.259