The Artificial Pancreas: A Race To The Finish

What originally started as a scientific hypothesis supported by a small group of believers has grown into a competitive project now involving some of the biggest names in the diabetes device space. The quest to develop a functioning artificial pancreas system (APS) is moving into the later stages, and if the current pace continues, it is possible a product could be ready for regulatory submission in the next few years. A great deal of enthusiasm and support for this milestone is coming from the business and medical communities, which have seen this technology take tremendous leaps forward in the last 10 years, moving from concept to reality. The development and refinement of insulin delivery pumps, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and sophisticated computer algorithms all are credited as major factors in this progress, but improvements in those elements also have been spurred along by a business environment that has supported the right balance of competition and cooperation in one of the most interesting races to see who will be first-to-market.

The demand for innovative products for patients with diabetes is one of the most attractive opportunities in the medical device...