Senseonics is joining forces with diabetes management company TypeZero to develop an artificial pancreas system based on its implantable continuous glucose monitor.
The Eversense CGM system, which earned a CE mark last May, comprises a sensor that is implanted under the skin of the upper arm, a transmitter and a mobile app. The sensor, which lasts for 90 days, detects glucose values in the interstitial fluid. It transmits glucose data using a fluorescent polymer that changes its light output depending on the glucose concentration. The transmitter picks up these signals and sends them to a mobile device.
Under the agreement, the companies will integrate glucose readings from the Eversense system into TypeZero’s inControl software platform, which includes decision support and artificial pancreas systems, they said in a statement.
Artificial pancreas algorithms will use continuous glucose data from the Eversense sensor to automatically adjust insulin delivery through a patient’s insulin pump, according to a statement. The partners will also use TypeZero’s decision support tools to recommend basal and bolus insulin doses for patients who use insulin pens.
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“We see the combination of our inControl technology with Senseonics’ sensor as potentially a huge win for persons with diabetes,” said TypeZero CEO Chad Rogers, in the statement. “In many ways CGM data is the heartbeat of our artificial pancreas and decision support technologies, and integrating our inControl platform with the reliable and durable Eversense CGM System which could give patients yet another tool for managing their health and simplifying their lives.”
This is hardly TypeZero’s first rodeo—the company has already partnered on artificial pancreas projects with Cellnovo and Tandem Diabetes Care. In November, the NIH tapped TypeZero, Tandem and Dexcom to create a closed-loop artificial pancreas to be tested in an international trial.
But device giant Medtronic has been leading the pack, notching the world’s first approval for a hybrid closed-loop system for blood glucose control last September. It is based on the company’s MiniMed 670G insulin pump and includes a glucose sensor that can be worn for seven days at a time. The device continuously measures glucose levels and delivers an appropriate dose of basal insulin via the pump. However, patients must still manually request bolus insulin at mealtimes.