Diabetes wellness experts are developing a first-generation, closed-loop insulin delivery system, which is designed to predict a rise or fall in blood glucose and, at the same time, increase, decrease, suspend and resume your insulin delivery. Impressive stuff, but how close are we to seeing this system up and running?
At the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) Conference in Paris this month, Animas Corporation announced positive results from the second phase of human clinical trials of the Hypoglycaemia-Hyperglycaemia Minimiser (HHM) System. This study was the first to be conducted in humans, and provided the researchers with insights into just how sensitive the System is.
In partnership with leading academic research institutions, including the University of California, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and the Centre for Diabetes Technology at the University of Virginia, Animas Corporation has developed the HHM System, which includes a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and a control algorithm used to predict changes in blood glucose.
The study also revealed that the system can improve the wellbeing of type 1 diabetics, as it reduced insulin delivery in advance of hypoglycaemia and triggered timely warnings. When it came to general glucose control, the System demonstrated promising results, keeping glucose levels at an average of 133 mg/dL for the entire cohort, and there were no safety concerns, including diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycaemia.
According to Ramakrishna Venugopalan, Director of Research & Development at Animas Corporation, ‘We are encouraged by these results, which strengthen our understanding of the complex algorithms required of a closed-loop insulin delivery system and further our confidence in this technology platform. The scope of this study also reflects our commitment to create innovative and robust solutions for people living with diabetes.’
Animas has been in collaboration with various institutions, including the JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), since 2010. Aaron Kowalski, PhD, Vice President of Treatment Therapies Research at JDRF, commented, ‘We are encouraged by the results and progress Animas has made in the first stage of development of a closed-loop insulin delivery system. A predictive system that cannot only detect, but can predict blood sugar levels and make automatic adjustments to insulin delivery would be a major advance for people with Type 1 diabetes.’
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