The next phase of weight management won’t be led by pharma, but by functional foods designed to work alongside GLP‑1 drugs, says biotech startup Lembas during Future Food-Tech San Francisco.
Lembas, which produces biopeptides for food and supplements, positions its ingredients as complementary to GLP‑1 drugs, not a replacement – aimed at supporting satiety through food‑based signaling rather than pharmacological intervention, says to Lembas’ CEO and Co-founder Shay Hillel during Future Food-Tech San Francisco.
Unlike traditional functional foods, the peptides are designed to act as bioactive signaling molecules that trigger satiety pathways rather than provide nutrition alone, according to Lembas.
An opportunity for food as GLP‑1 use grows
Functional foods are evolving to complement the nutritional and satiety needs of GLP‑1 users, with CPG brands developing products in real time as the drugs evolve. While some experts say that food alone cannot replace GLP-1s, Hillel argues that if food companies don’t innovate quickly in this space, pharmaceutical companies will increasingly move into functional nutrition themselves.
“If food doesn’t move, pharma will,” he emphasized.
Hillel sees the drugs as an opportunity for food, “either as pre‑treatments or post‑treatments for the food industry to take a role and lead with the right solution.”
How Lembas’ biopeptides work
Lembas’ biopeptides, which are short, bioavailable proteins, activate receptors in the gut and throughout the body to provide satiety, Hillel explained.
“We are activating signaling related to GLP and other satiety hormones, but in a similar way that food activates them – without the calories,” he said.
While the drug itself increases GLP levels, Lembas’ biopeptides aim to “activate the whole satiety cascade – not just one hormone,” delivering satiety for six to 12 hours, according to Lembas. The company is now beginning clinical trials in the US and Canada, according to Hillel.
From supplements to everyday foods
While supplements are the “easiest format” for Lembas’ biopeptides, “the real opportunity is integrating them into bars, drinks, fibers and daily foods” that align with consumers’ lifestyles, Hillel said.
Scaling, partnerships and the path to market
Lembas is seeking funding and partnerships, as Hillel points to growing interest from CPG brands looking to move quickly in the GLP‑1 landscape. The company’s goal is to reach the mass market and provide consumers with another option that complements the drugs and improves their metabolic health, Hillel emphasized.
