A British scientist has developed a 'natural Ozempic' pill named Elcella, designed to control appetite without the debilitating side effects associated with weight loss injections. Elcella capsules contain linseed oil (flaxseed), coconut oil, and MCT oil, triggering the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY, hormones that induce feelings of fullness.
How Elcella Works
Elcella's formulation aims to address the underlying issue of obesity, where individuals often lose the ability to recognize satiety. Dr. Madusha Peiris from Queen Mary University, London, the inventor of Elcella, stated, "The tragedy of obesity is that you lose much of your ability to tell when you're full. We found a combination of nutrients triggers hormones that control appetite, so you eat less and lose weight. Our discovery means we have a new way to help people get healthy again." The pill is intended to be taken twice daily.
Clinical Trial Results
Clinical trial data indicates that obese patients taking Elcella reduced their calorie intake by 18% without reporting complications. In contrast, drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, which also mimic GLP-1, are known to cause nausea and other distressing side effects. Dr. Peiris emphasizes that Elcella differs from weight-loss drugs by releasing naturally occurring appetite-reducing hormones rather than replacing them with synthetic hormones, leading to an absence of observed side effects in three clinical trials.
Comparison to Existing Treatments
While semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) has demonstrated around 15% body weight reduction in trials, and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) triggers a 20% or greater weight loss, Elcella is positioned as a natural alternative. A 2022 review supports the potential of flaxseed oil, a key component of Elcella, to aid weight reduction in obese individuals due to its alpha-linolenic acid content. Another review suggested flaxseed supplements could decrease hunger perception, reduce food consumption, and increase feelings of fullness. MCT oil, derived from coconut oil, has also shown promise in preliminary research for promoting weight loss by increasing fullness hormones.
Availability and Cost
Elcella is currently available to eligible patients as part of a controlled clinical trial and is expected to launch in the UK in mid-2025. The makers of Elcella claim their product will be available over the counter at less than half the price of current weight loss injections, which often cost upwards of £2,000 a year. This lower cost could make Elcella a more accessible option for individuals seeking weight management solutions.
Expert Perspectives
Dr. Rubina Aktar, a colleague of Dr. Peiris, highlighted the potential for Elcella to disrupt the weight loss market, stating, "With the soaring popularity of drugs like Ozempic, the market is ripe for disruption. Those drugs have proved their efficacy, but there's never been a natural alternative like Elcella that works with the body's natural processes." However, experts caution that more research is needed before definitively comparing the efficacy of these compounds to established weight loss jabs.
Concerns About Counterfeit Medications
The announcement of Elcella comes amid concerns about the proliferation of counterfeit weight loss injections. UK health chiefs have warned against purchasing these medications from unregulated sources, as they may contain dangerous contaminants. Health officials have seized over 600 fake weight loss injection pens since the start of 2023, some containing insulin, which can cause life-threatening complications if misused.
