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| Google's Andy Conrad |
Google ($GOOG) is keeping up the pace of its push into diabetes. Having got the ball rolling by allying with Novartis ($NVS) in 2014, Google has now added Sanofi ($SNY) to its burgeoning list of diabetes collaborators.
The latest deal sees Sanofi team up with Google to tap into the search giant's expertise in analytics, miniaturized electronics and low-power computer chips. Data collection and analysis are central to the collaboration. With blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels, sensor-gathered data, medication regimen details and patient-reported information from people with diabetes all now available, Sanofi and Google think they have the necessary building blocks to improve patient care.
Joslin Diabetes Center is teaming up with the partners. "We're delighted to provide a wealth of experts with understanding of how to translate great technology and data into actionable and intelligible information," Joslin CEO John Brooks told Boston Business Journal. Joslin and its partner are now sorting out the financials of the relationship. "We'll need economics so I can put the type of experts on board. They are amenable and we'll finalize the details," Brooks said.
The deal is the second diabetes alliance struck by Google's life science unit since the reorganization of the company under the Alphabet umbrella was unveiled. Once the rejig is complete, Google's life science unit will emerge from under the wing of the experimental Google X division and become a standalone operation. The status being accorded to life sciences suggests Google sees it becoming a viable business. Deals such as those struck with Novartis, Sanofi and Dexcom ($DXCM) will help in this regard.
- read the release
- here's BBJ's article
- and FierceBiotech's take