GelTex Pharmaceuticals

GelTex Pharmaceuticals was a biotechnology company that pioneered the development of non-absorbed, polymer-based therapeutic products designed to act within the gastrointestinal tract. The company's core technology utilized functional polymers to bind and eliminate specific substances, such as phosphate and bile acids, to treat metabolic and renal disorders without systemic absorption. Their primary commercial successes included Renagel (sevelamer), a phosphate binder for patients with chronic kidney disease, and Welchol (colesevelam), a cholesterol-lowering agent. GelTex was acquired by Genzyme Corporation in 2000 for approximately $1 billion, a move that significantly strengthened Genzyme's renal and cardiovascular business units. The company's approach remains a landmark in the development of locally acting GI therapeutics.