The Israeli Invention Turning Heads Worldwide

Are you struggling to limit yourself to just one rugelach or finding it hard to resist an endless supply of sweets? Meet Melcap – an innovative Israeli development in the form of an electronic pill designed to control our feelings of hunger and fullness.

Currently, the Israeli start-up Melcap is in the process of raising approximately $2 million to accelerate development and provide an expansive solution to the problem of obesity, a growing concern in the Western world. Many have already fallen victim to this widespread issue. Melcap was founded by entrepreneur Yosef Mor, electronics engineer Boris Voznesensky, and Professor Rami Eliakim, who also serves as the head of the Gastroenterology Department at 'Sheba' Tel Hashomer Hospital. Considering it was only established in 2012, this is a significant achievement by any standards.

So, what is this groundbreaking development, and why do scientists have high hopes for it? Unlike other popular methods on the market, these are non-invasive, disposable capsules which, according to the developers, induce a feeling of fullness for 21 days.

How does it work? When the pill reaches the stomach, it absorbs gastric fluids and expands in size. It continues this cycle 24 hours a day, over a 21-day period, transforming into a kind of 'liquid ball' that signals fullness to the body. This naturally reduces the patient's food intake. If the pill proves itself effective, it could herald a new era in the field of bariatric surgery (stomach reduction surgeries) by achieving the same goals without the need for general anesthesia, thus avoiding potential complications.

Control over the capsule is facilitated via a smartphone (an external magnet in the pill connects to the smartphone which acts as a remote control). Beyond obesity, it could address a range of medical issues, such as digestive diseases, thanks to its ability to release medications directly into the stomach.