Senseonics (NYSE:SENS) said today that it inked a collaboration with TypeZero Technologies and Roche (OTC:RHHBY) Diabetes Care to develop an automated insulin delivery system.
The deal is part of an NIH-funded effort to test artificial pancreas systems. The trial is slated to integrate Senseonic’s Eversense glucose monitor, TypeZero’s inControl AP algorithms and Roche’s Accu-Chek Insight insulin pump. The software automatically adjusts insulin delivery based on data received from the glucose monitor and the insulin pump.
“This partnership is an example of how industry, research and clinical care work together to move innovative technologies from research to development and then to patients to minimize the burden of diabetes,” principal investigator Boris Kovatchev said in prepared remarks.
“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,” Senseonics president & CEO Tim Goodnow added.
The collaboration is the first to bring together a glucose monitor that lasts up to 90 days with an insulin pump and algorithms for closed loop applications, according to the group.
“We have been contributing to the important research on automated insulin delivery systems for many years. This is why we are now even more excited to be able to build on our excellent partnerships and take our collaboration to the next level within the IDCL Trial. We believe this research will support us in making a true difference for people with diabetes as we aim to improve their time in range and free them of many daily routines,” Marcel Gmuender, Global Head of Roche Diabetes Care, said.
“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,” TypeZero CEO Chad Rogers said. “We are excited about delivering a Senseonics-Roche-TypeZero solution to the IDCL Trial and, ultimately, giving patients differentiated options for managing their Type I diabetes.”
Analysts praised the move, with Leerink partners Danielle Antalffy and Rebecca Wang writing that they believe “every diabetes device player needs a strategic move into the AP (artificial pancreas) space as the insulin delivery market is clearly moving towards integrated systems.”
