Senseonics and TypeZero's R&D partnership around the artificial pancreas is leveling up. The two organizations announced today that they would team up with pharmaceutical and medical device company Roche to launch three European clinical trials of their combined closed-loop system. The research is backed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through its International Diabetes Closed Loop (IDCL) Trial program.
“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,” Tim Goodnow, president and CEO of Senseonics, said in a statement.
Senseonics, which makes a long-lasting implantable CGM called Eversense, and TypeZero, which is focused on creating algorithms for closed loop systems, entered into an R&D partnership in May. They're among a growing group of academic and private groups working on creating what's colloquially called an artificial pancreas, or more technically referred to as a closed loop diabetes management system. A true artificial pancreas would coordinate insulin injection (through a pump) and blood glucose monitoring (through a continuous glucose monitor) via algorithms, so that the user could simply switch the device on and not worry anymore about insulin dosing. Earlier versions don't go that far, but can make the process of dosing much easier on a person with diabetes.
In this new partnership, Senseonics and TypeZero are working with Roche on a system that will combine Eversense, TypeZero’s inControl AP algorithms and Roche’s Accu-Chek Insight Insulin Pump. They are testing the system in three clinical trial centers in Europe: The University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the University of Padova in Italy, and University Hospital of Montpellier in France.
“We have been contributing to the important research on automated insulin delivery systems for many years," Marcel Gmuender, Global Head of Roche Diabetes Care, said in a statement. "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."
