The search for the artificial pancreas continues, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Becton Dickinson ($BDX) have joined forces to develop an insulin-delivery system paired with glucose monitoring for people with Type 1 diabetes.
The foundation and Becton Dickinson have agreed to a three-year partnership, an extension of existing collaborations between the two, with a focus on Type 1 diabetes, according to a release. The device, long sought-after in the industry, would mimic the functions of a human pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar levels indicate it is needed by combining the pump with a glucose-monitoring system. This minimizes the potential for human error, as the standard of care currently requires a pump with a catheter and patient-controlled glucose monitoring.
Several iterations of the artificial pancreas are already in development. Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) Animas has its own external device in a second feasibility study; Medtronic ($MDT) has its Paradigm Veo, which is undergoing FDA review; and Tandem is working on a dual-chamber insulin pump.
"As the world's largest charitable funder of Type 1 diabetes research, JDRF is committed to advancing therapies that improve the lives of people living with this disease," said JDRF President and CEO Jeffrey Brewer in a statement. JDRF has put $530 million toward sponsoring diabetes research.
"We are excited to continue our collaboration with BD and support efforts to develop novel technologies enabling advanced artificial pancreas systems that will both measure glucose and administer insulin," Brewer continued. "Joining these capabilities into a single solution will address significant patient needs and help reduce the daily burden of managing Type 1 diabetes."
- here's the release
- read FierceMedicalDevices' take