Sanofi, Apple, Walgreen and Google: Disruptive Technologies for the Glucometer – A Contact Lens or an iPhone Application
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
Diabetes: Google gets into medtech with plans for glucose-measuring contact lens
January 17, 2014 by Arezu Sarvestani
Google is testing a “smart” contact lens embedded with sensors and antennae that can take the place of finger-prick tests for measuring blood glucose levels for diabetics.
Rumors of Google’s (NSDQ:GOOG) impending foray into medical devices proved true when the company revealed this week that it’s testing a “smart” contact lens that can take the place of regular finger-prick tests for testing blood glucose.
The technology giant is looking for partners to further develop the project, bring it to market and develop apps to capture data from the contact lenses and make information available to users and their caregivers, according to a company statement
SIMILAR ENTRIES
The contact lenses are fitted with wireless microchips, tiny glucose sensors and hair-thin antennae that can detect blood glucose levels in tears and transmit that data to another device. At this point the prototypes are generating 1 reading per second, and Google researchers are considering adding a tiny LED warning system that would light up to alert the wearer that blood glucose levels are nearing unhealthy highs or lows.
“It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype,” according to a company statement. “We’re in discussions with the FDA, but there’s still a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use.”
SOURCE
Apple Store now sells Sanofi’s iPhone glucose meter
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In recent years Apple stores began selling fitness devices other than those offered by long time partner Nike+. The company also added Withings’ WiFi-enabled scale to its store shelves. Soon followed iHealth’s iOS Blood Pressure Monitor dock and more. This week Cupertino’s retail stores have begun selling Sanofi’s iBGStar device, the first FDA cleared iPhone-enabled blood glucose meter. MobiHealthNews learned about the launch during an on-site meeting at Sanofi headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey this week.
MobiHealthNews first reported on the iBGStar back in September 2010when Sanofi and its partner device maker AgaMatrix released the first images of the device, which was also known as AgaMatrix’s Nugget device.
While the devices may still be making their way to some brick-and-mortar locations — Sanofi expects them to be in the stores by May 15 — Apple’s online store and Walgreens.com are already selling the device. Apple is offering the iBGStar for about $100 while Walgreens has priced it at about $75. (An iPhone or iPod touch is not included, of course, and while the meter works without the device, much of its value would be lost without one.) Since Apple will not be selling testing strips for the device, its iBGStar package includes 50 strips, which explains the higher price. Walgreens’ iBGStar package includes just 10 strips, but additional strips can be purchased at Walgreens or from the store’s website. Sanofi says the prices work out to be about the same.
While Walgreens has an exclusive arrangement with Sanofi to sell the device and strips, Sanofi’s Shawna Gvazdauskas, VP and Device Head for US Diabetes, said that any pharmacist can order the device for a patient through McKesson.
Sanofi’s iBGStar is tiny. Some of the other bloggers and diabetes community leaders that attended Sanofi’s demo day this week noted that the device’s size alone is an impressive feature.
The device’s companion app, called iBGStar Diabetes Manager App, launched on Apple’s AppStore early last month. The app helps users analyze their glucose patterns over time, track eating and other activities that may have influenced their levels, and email data to care providers or others. The collected information is also displayed as scorecards that show individual test results in different colors that are coded to indicate high, low and within range blood glucose results. Readings from the iBGStar device are automatically loaded into the app when synched, and those readings are “locked” in — users are not able to edit them. Those readings also are indicated by a lock symbol on the corner of their scorecard, while any manually entered readings are marked with an “x” to indicate that they are editable and were manually entered. Sanofi expects that information to help care providers who might like to know which readings came from the device and were not edited.
Sanofi acknowledged that it is targeting a very specific group with an iPhone or iPod touch-based glucose meter. The company believes the number of potential users is about 1.6 million in the United States. When Sanofi first partnered with AgaMatrix to develop the device back in March 2010, AT&T had an exclusive for the iPhone. Once Verizon Wireless began offering the iPhone and — more recently — Sprint, Sanofi saw its potential iBGStar user base rise considerably.
Sanofi also said that Apple is excited about the iBGStar device. Apple included the iBGStar device in a recent “healthcare enterprise” roadshow for medical professionals. The presentation featured just three iOS-enabled devices and apps, according to Sanofi. One featured device was Withings’ WiFi-enabled weight scale. Two of them were Sanofi offerings: the iBGStar and the company’s GoMeals app, a nutrition tracking app for people with diabetes. Sanofi says the app, which launched in late 2009, now has 400,000 downloads. Apple suggested that Sanofi find ways to integrate the GoMeals app with the iBGStar Diabetes Manager app, according to the company, and it plans to do so.
While the current iteration of Sanofi iBGStar Diabetes Manager app does not include any automated coaching like WellDoc’s DiabetesManager program, Sanofi’s Gvazdauskas said that the two companies are already exploring ways to collaborate. No firm plans for a partnership have been officially announced yet, however. Adding services is an important next step of Sanofi’s three-prong diabetes franchise strategy, which includes “molecules”, devices, and services. The company is likely to offer some kind of discount or incentive to buy the iBGStar device to those who also use its diabetes drugs. While this is its first device, Sanofi expects to develop others.
Another wireless-enabled blood glucose device came up during the discussion at Sanofi’s event this week: Telcare. Telcare’s BGM was the first FDA-cleared cellular-enabled blood glucose meter. Sanofi’s Gvazdauskas said she was impressed with that company’s cloud-based platform and saw an opportunity to partner with Telcare to leverage its platform in the future.
Given the amount of press the iBGStar has already received pre-launch, Gvazdauskas said that Sanofi has already heard from a number of very interested customers. Self-insured employers, she said, were one group that seemed especially interested. Healthcare providers are eager to leverage iBGStar to track patients post-discharge to determine if, for example, the patient is being compliant with their treatment plan to test a certain number of times a day.
So what took so long? MobiHealthNews and others have been writing about the iBGStar for years. Gvazdauskas said the device entered the FDA’s regulatory machine when the agency was adding new requirements for medical device clearance — including new infection control policies — that slowed the process down. Gvazdauskas also said that her team has been asked many times why it has taken so long to commercially launch the device after securing FDA clearance last December.
She said Sanofi waited because it wanted to ensure there was adequate shelf space available to meet the demand.
SOURCE
http://mobihealthnews.com/17189/apple-stores-now-sell-sanofis-iphone-glucose-meter/
About iBGStar®
The innovative iBGStar® is the first blood glucose meter that can be used on its own or connected directly to an Apple iPhone® or iPod touch® to easily display, manage and communicate your diabetes information. The iBGStar meets today’s industry standards for accuracy.
Using the technology built into your iPhone or iPod touch, you can share the information stored on the app with your healthcare team while on the go. Sharing this information with your healthcare team may help you make better-informed diabetes-related decisions together.
Choose iBGStar
- Innovative Technology — Providing accuracy you can depend on. iBGStar connects directly to the iPhone or iPod touch, allowing you to manage your diabetes information anytime, anywhere.
- Integrated Application —iBGStar will automatically sync data with theiBGStar® Diabetes Manager when connected with your iPhone or iPod touch. The app tracks glucose, insulin and carbs — and charts individualized glucose patterns over time.
- Discreet Design — With a compact, stylish body the iBGStar can stay attached to your iPhone or iPod touch so you can carry around one less device.*
- Personalized Notes — The iBGStar Diabetes Manager app allows you to input your data with personalized notes. This information may help you and your healthcare team analyze patterns and variations to help make informed diabetes-related decisions.
- Shareable Data — Your individual data can be emailed or shown to your healthcare team during your visit for greater flexibility in managing your diabetes together.
About the iBGStar meter
- Dock Connector Cover: Covers the dock connector when not in use.
- Dock Connector: This end inserts into the 30-pin dock connector port on your iPhone or iPod touch. The dock connector port is located below the home button of either device.
- Display Area: Glucose test results, symbols and messages appear here.
- Meter Button: The right side of the iBGStar display is a button. It is used to turn on or turn off the iBGStar and view past test results.
- Micro-USB Port: Used to connect to the power adapter or a PC (personal computer) via the micro-USB to USB cable.
- Strip Port: Insert the BGStar® Blood Glucose Test Strip, with the contact bars facing up, into the strip port.
*When connected directly to an iPhone or iPod touch.
Important Information
The meter and lancing device are for single patient use. Do not share them with anyone including other family members. Do not use on multiple patients. All parts of the kit are considered biohazardous and can potentially transmit infectious diseases, even after you have performed cleaning and disinfection.
iBGStar is compatible with the iPhone 3G/3GS/4/4S and iPod touch 2/3/4.
iBGStar also is compatible with the iPhone 5 or iPod touch 5 using an authentic Apple Lightning™ to 30-pin Adapter (sold separately). The use of non-Apple adapters with iBGStar has not been tested and is not recommended. To sync readings with an iPhone 5 or iPod touch 5, begin by launching the iBGStar Diabetes Manager app. Then attach the Lightning Adapter to the iPhone/iPod touch BEFORE connecting iBGStar to the adapter.
iBGStar Diabetes Manager app requires iOS 4, 5, or 6. The app release 2.1.1 includes enhancements for iOS 6 and iPhone 5/iPod touch 5 compatibility.
iPhone®, iPod touch® and Lightning™ are trademarks of Apple Inc. iPhone, iPod touch and adapter are sold separately.
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