Roche has now partnered up with Senseonics and TypeZero Technologies, as they join in on a quest to develop an automated insulin delivery system, the first steps towards an ‘artificial pancreas.’
The existing partners, Senseonics and TypeZero Technologies who already have an R&D deal, hope to import Roche’s AccuChek Insight insulin pump to the system with the Swiss giant hopping in.
Roche, along with Senseonics, developer of glucose monitoring devices, and TypeZero Technologies, creator of algorithms to aid in personalised diabetes care, aims to develop a long-term, closed insulin delivery system that automatically administers insulin in response to high blood glucose levels in diabetes patients.
“The promise of automated insulin delivery systems is the ability to automatically and sustainably maintain tight glucose control while avoiding hypoglycemia. With this partnership, we are one step closer to bringing this promise to market and to significantly improve the everyday challenges of people with diabetes,” said Senseonics CEO Tim Goodnow, in the statement.
Medtronic is the only company so far to snag FDA approval for a closed-loop device; its hybrid closed-loop system is based on its MiniMed 670G insulin pump and uses a glucose sensor worn for seven days at a time. It automates basal, or
background, insulin delivery, but still requires patients to manually request bolus insulin at mealtimes. The company has now rolled the device out to patients in its Priority Access Program last month and is working on a fully automated system for insulin delivery.The solution in discussion will be developed across three European clinical centres – the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the University of Padova in Italy, and the University Hospital of Montpellier in France.
“Our goal has long been to bring revolutionary artificial pancreas products to patients as quickly as possible, and our partnership with industry pioneers like Senseonics and Roche positions us to do that,” said Chad Rogers, CEO of TypeZero. “We are excited about delivering a Senseonics-Roche-TypeZero solution to the IDCL Trial and, ultimately, giving patients differentiated options for managing their type 1 diabetes.”
Roche’s involvement in the trial follows on from its investment in Senseonics earlier this year as part of a $40 million funding round. Already a major shareholder in the company, Roche Finance was the biggest contributor to the round, contributing around $30 million.
