Erbe Highlights New MOVIVA® Endoscopic Obesity Therapy Platform During 175th Anniversary Year
Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH is marking its 175th anniversary by showcasing continued innovation in minimally invasive healthcare technologies with the launch of MOVIVA®, a new solution designed for gastric mucosal ablation (GMA) in endoscopic obesity therapy.
The company announced that MOVIVA® will serve as the centerpiece of its activities during ESGE Days 2026, taking place from May 14 to May 16 in Milan. Physicians attending the conference will have the opportunity to explore the technology through hands-on demonstrations and attend a dedicated scientific symposium focused on the emerging role of gastric mucosal ablation in obesity treatment.
The launch reflects growing global interest in minimally invasive approaches to obesity management as healthcare systems seek alternatives between lifestyle interventions, drug therapies, and bariatric surgery.
According to Marcus Felstead, obesity rates continue increasing worldwide, while many patients remain underserved by currently available treatment pathways. He noted that endoscopic therapies are increasingly emerging as additional treatment options capable of bridging the gap between conservative weight management strategies and more invasive surgical procedures.
Felstead stated that Erbe aims to support physicians in integrating this innovative treatment approach into clinical practice while expanding patient access to less invasive obesity therapies.
Obesity remains one of the largest global public health challenges, contributing to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic disorders, sleep apnea, and numerous other chronic conditions. While lifestyle modifications and pharmacological therapies can provide benefits for some patients, long-term weight management remains difficult for many individuals.
Bariatric surgery often produces substantial and durable weight loss, but it is invasive, resource-intensive, and not suitable or accessible for all patients. As a result, interest has grown in endoscopic bariatric therapies that can offer meaningful weight reduction with lower procedural risk and faster recovery times.
MOVIVA® was developed specifically to support gastric mucosal ablation, an endoscopic procedure targeting the upper region of the stomach known as the fundus. This area plays a major role in the production of ghrelin, a hormone commonly associated with hunger signaling and appetite stimulation.
Persistent hunger and food cravings remain major barriers to sustained weight loss for many people living with obesity. By targeting ghrelin-producing tissue within the stomach lining, gastric mucosal ablation seeks to reduce hunger signaling and help patients better control food intake over time.
According to Erbe, patients undergoing GMA may experience fewer cravings because the procedure reduces ghrelin production in the treated areas of the stomach.
The MOVIVA® platform combines two key procedural functions into a single hybrid instrument. First, the device allows physicians to inject a submucosal fluid cushion beneath the tissue being treated. This cushion helps protect deeper tissue layers from thermal injury during the procedure.
Second, the system enables superficial thermal ablation of the gastric mucosa using argon plasma coagulation, commonly known as APC. Argon plasma coagulation is a well-established endoscopic technology frequently used for controlled tissue coagulation and ablation in gastrointestinal procedures.
Erbe stated that MOVIVA® operates using its proprietary moveAPD mode, which is designed to support broad and consistent tissue ablation during treatment.
The development of technologies like MOVIVA® reflects broader innovation trends within therapeutic endoscopy, where physicians increasingly use minimally invasive tools to treat conditions that previously required surgery or had limited interventional options.
Early clinical experience with gastric mucosal ablation has generated encouraging findings regarding weight loss outcomes. According to Erbe, initial studies indicate that fundal GMA performed using MOVIVA® has resulted in total body weight loss of approximately 7.7% after six months when used as a standalone procedure.
Researchers and clinicians are also exploring the potential benefits of combining gastric mucosal ablation with other endoscopic obesity procedures, including endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG).
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces stomach volume using endoscopic suturing techniques without requiring surgical incisions. When combined with GMA, preliminary data suggest even greater weight loss outcomes may be achievable.
Erbe reported that early data involving combined GMA and ESG procedures have shown total body weight loss of up to 24% after 12 months. These results approach weight loss outcomes historically associated with surgical sleeve gastrectomy while remaining substantially less invasive.
The company also stated that more than 150 patients have been treated with MOVIVA® to date, contributing to the growing body of clinical experience surrounding this emerging therapeutic approach.
As obesity treatment continues evolving, physicians and researchers are increasingly evaluating how different endoscopic techniques can complement one another to improve patient outcomes while minimizing procedural burden.
Erbe plans to further highlight these developments during a dedicated symposium at ESGE Days 2026 titled “A Novel Endoscopic Therapy for Obesity: Early Clinical Experience with Gastric Mucosal Ablation (GMA) in the Fundus.”
The symposium will feature presentations and discussions involving several international experts in gastrointestinal endoscopy and obesity treatment, including Aayed Alqahtani, Ivo Boskoski, Roberta Maselli, and Bu’Hussain Hayee.
According to Erbe, the session will provide physicians with insights into the early clinical experience associated with gastric mucosal ablation while also creating a forum to discuss the future role of this evolving treatment strategy within obesity care.
The company noted that physicians interested in learning more about the technology and clinical developments can also access information through the official MOVIVA® platform website.
MOVIVA® is currently available in CE and CE-related markets, supporting its use in regions recognizing European conformity standards for medical devices.
The introduction of the platform comes at a time when healthcare providers worldwide are seeking more scalable and patient-friendly obesity treatment solutions. Endoscopic approaches are increasingly viewed as important additions to the obesity care continuum because they can potentially offer effective weight reduction while avoiding the higher risks and recovery demands associated with surgical intervention.
As clinical evidence continues expanding and physician experience grows, technologies such as MOVIVA® may contribute to broader adoption of minimally invasive endoscopic obesity therapies across global healthcare systems.
With its latest launch, Erbe reinforces its longstanding focus on advancing medical technology innovation while expanding therapeutic possibilities in gastroenterology and obesity management during a milestone anniversary year for the company.
About Erbe Elektromedizin
In 2026 the Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH celebrates its 175th anniversary under the motto “Progress with Purpose.” Since 1851 Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH develops, manufactures, and distributes surgical instruments and devices worldwide, while providing services for professional use of these products in a diverse range of medical disciplines. Physicians, clinical teams and patients around the world rely on medical technology from Erbe. The instruments and devices find use in almost all specialist areas. They are based on electrosurgery combined with other Erbe technologies. Hybrid solutions enable new, innovative applications in medicine.
Fields of activity
- Electrosurgery
- Endoscopy
- Imaging
- Vessel sealing
- Plasmasurgery
- Cryotechnology
- Hydrosurgery
An international network
- 20 international sales and service units
- 5 production sites
- Erbe is active in 110 international markets
The Erbe workforce
- 2,200 employees worldwide
- Some 1,400 of them in Germany
