Hassan M. Heshmati

Essentialis, Inc. develops therapeutic products in curing metabolic diseases. It operates as a pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of breakthrough medicines for the treatment of rare metabolic diseases where there is mortality and risk of cardiovascular and endocrine complications. The company was founded by Neil M. Cowen, Jeffrey A. Staffa and Thomas A. Glaze in 2004 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

Gelesis, Inc. operates as a consumer-centered biotherapeutics company, which engages in the development of novel therapies to induce weight loss and metabolic disorders. Its commercial product portfolio includes Plenity, an FDA-cleared product to aid in weight management, as well as potential therapies in development for patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease /Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, and Functional Constipation. The company was founded by Yishai Zohar in 2006 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.

Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC engages in the provision of pharmaceutical products. It discovers, develops, produces and markets innovative therapies. The firm extensive research and development efforts are focused on health care challenges in cardiology, oncology and internal medicine, as well as metabolic diseases, central nervous system disorders, ophthalmology and vaccines. The company is headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education & Research operates as a medical care research and education organization. Its services include patient care, corporate services, research, and education. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Rochester, MN.