SFC Fluidics said today that it won a $1.4 million grant to support the development of a dual-hormone patch pump for people with diabetes.
The company’s ePump system is designed to control the delivery of insulin and glucagon via a small patch pump. The technology will also feature a flow confirmation sensor to determine, in real-time, if drug delivery has occurred as expected, according to SFC Fluidics.
“The suite of patents and patent applications that covers SFC Fluidics’ system – from the pump to the valves to the sensors – will allow for development of a next generation dual-hormone patch pump that combines safety, convenience and small size with excellent accuracy and precision,” principal investigator Forrest Payne said in prepared remarks.
“We think the proposed system will be especially attractive to adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and will serve the broader diabetic community as well. What’s more, we see the dual hormone drug delivery system as a vital part of a future state-of-the-art artificial pancreas,” Greg Lamps, SFC’s VP of product realization added.
In July this year, SFC Fluidics inked a two-year funding deal with JDRF to support the development of an insulin patch pump with open-protocal communication features. The interoperable patch pump would connect securely with other devices, including a continuous glucose monitor and third-party algorithms, to help automate insulin delivery.
