GlucoMe, Merck ink Vietnamese diabetes study deal

GlucoMe said last week it inked a pilot collaboration deal with Merck (NYSE:MRK) looking to evaluate GlucoMe’s digital diabetes platform at several hospitals in Vietnam.

Israel-based GlucoMe said that the project was scheduled to begin this month, and that it will compare GlucoMe’s digital diabetes care system against the current standard of care in the country.

The GlucoMe system will be initially available at five hospitals in the region, with patients using the comapny’s wireless blood glucose monitor to measure blood sugar levels at home. Clinical data will be synced through GlucoMe’s mobile applicationa nd analyzed through its Digital Diabetes Clinic and Control Tower alert system, the company said.

GlucoMe said that implementation of the system will allow staff to continuously monitor patients and intervene more efficiently than currently possible in the region.

“The collaboration announced today will evaluate the advantages and acceptance of GlucoMe’s digital diabetes care system in a country with a vast diabetes patient population, which today faces a significant lack of resources to effectively manage their condition. We have been impressed by the connectivity and simplicity of GlucoMe’s solution, allowing physicians to make data-driven decisions while providing patients with stripped down, easy-to-use devices that are automatically connected to their smartphones. GlucoMe’s platform has the potential to trigger an overall paradigm shift in the treatment of diabetes in Vietnam and across emerging markets, through the help of cutting-edge technology. Innovation in the treatment of diabetes is a key pillar of our global strategy and this is a clear example of how technology can significantly improve the quality of care,” Merck biopharma biz diabetes global head Daniel Ruggiero said in a press release.

“We are delighted to partner with Merck KGaA, a leading science and technology company, to advance the care of diabetes worldwide. We announced the introduction of GlucoMe’s solution in India and in Central America in the first two quarters of 2018. Today, we are proud to announce the initiative in Vietnam. Digital diabetes care has particular value for countries with high prevalence but with limited resources for monitoring and treating the condition. We are happy to be the first on the scene where a digital diabetes care solution is crucially needed. We intend to work our way around the world with the goal of modernizing diabetes care for the benefit of patients, medical teams and payers,” GlucoMe CEO Yiftah Ben-Aharon said in a prepared statement.