Sanofi, Verily and Sensile Medical are teaming up to develop an “all-in-one” insulin patch pump, primarily aimed at patients with type 2 diabetes.
The plans for a new generation of prefilled, internet-connected devices were announced at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida.
Sanofi will provide the diabetes solutions and insulins, while the Switzerland-based Sensile Medical will develop the micro-pump technology. Verily, formerly Google Life Sciences, will assist with digital healthcare technology and electronics.
“Our goal is to develop a new type of pump technology that is simple to use and appropriate for people with Type 2 diabetes, as well as by those with Type 1 diabetes who are the primary users of insulin pumps today,” Sensile Medical CEO Derek Brandt said in a statement.
RELATED: Sanofi, Verily launch new diabetes joint venture
In 2016, Sanofi and Verily announced Onduo, a $496 million diabetes-focused joint venture that looked to incorporate devices, software and pharmaceuticals with professional care, to offer disease management with a more service-centric approach.
Billed as a “virtual diabetes clinic,” the Newton, Massachusetts-based Onduo offers coaching tools and connected blood glucose meters, and went live earlier this year. Previously, Sanofi maintained a partnership with Google Life Sciences in diabetes monitoring.
Meanwhile, Verily has been working with Dexcom to develop miniaturized, wearable continuous glucose monitors for Type 2 diabetes. Dexcom’s G6 CGM sensor patch was approved by the FDA in March, clearing it to be wirelessly integrated with insulin pumps and other diabetes devices.
The approval opened a door for future integrated monitors—and possibly new combination devices such as Sanofi, Verily and Sensile's—with the FDA categorizing the G6 as a class II device, and providing a simpler path to market for other companies.
“The FDA has taken steps to expedite the review process for similar, integrated CGMs and make these types of systems available to patients as quickly as possible while also helping to ensure their safety and reliability,” the FDA’s Donald St. Pierre, acting director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, said at the time.