Debiotech today reveals its Insulin Nanopump™ for the treatment of diabetes. Based on MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, the Insulin Nanopump™ is the result of a multiple year development program. It offers a noticeable progress in the treatment of diabetes by continuous subcutaneous insulin injection (CSII). Much smaller than any other pump presently on the market, it is also more precise and integrates novel safety features. It received the “Swiss Technology Award” in February 2006. With an overall size of 65 mm x 38 mm x 11 mm for a carried volume of 3 ml of insulin (which represents up to 7 days of consumption, depending on the patient), Debiotech’s Insulin Nanopump™ is much smaller than any pump on the market. “For the majority of patients, size is an important issue: they don’t like to carry large and obtrusive devices. Here we have made a critical step by producing a pump that can simply be worn under the clothes. The disease disappears from view”, says Laurent-Dominique Piveteau, Business Development Manager for Microsystems at Debiotech SA. Safety is ensured in particular by a built-in sensor. This sensor monitors the pump continuously. It can identify occlusions almost instantaneously and can send an alert to the patient. “On classical pumps using syringe driven mechanisms, such detection may take hours, even at moderate flow rates. Other common problems, like air bubbles, are not even detected at all in these pumps”, says Niklaus Schneeberger, R&D Manager for Microsystems at Debiotech SA.
“We hope the Insulin Nanopump™ we have developed will bring on a fundamental change in the way insulin therapy will be conceived in the future. Using MEMS highly precise manufacturing techniques from the semiconductor industry, it is possible to achieve an unmet precision at the nanoliter level, while integrating high level safety and accuracy features. Because of high-volume manufacturing techniques, we also achieve a cost that makes it compatible with single use without requiring major investment and make it accessible to almost every patient. The Insulin Nanopump™ being almost 5 times smaller than any existing product on the market today and compatible with our novel painless microneedle technology, it should also contribute to every patient’s need for a better Quality of Life” says Frederic Neftel M.D., President & CEO of Debiotech SA. “Given its further ability to fine tune the delivery of insulin in a more physiological way, the Insulin Nanopump™ should represent in the near future an ideal product to be combined with a continuous glucose monitoring device to create an artificial pancreas, thereby contributing to the long term improvement of diabetes care which remains one of the leading diseases of our times”. Diabetes is a serious chronic illness that affects how the body uses glucose, which is its main source of energy. To use this energy the body needs insulin, a protein produced by the pancreas, to get the glucose into cells where it can be used. When this process is not perfectly controlled, serious health problems can occur. This is what happens to people with Diabetes. Today, about 194 million people in the world suffer from diabetes and this number is expected to reach 333 million by 2025. According to WHO, diabetes-related illnesses represent in certain countries up to 15% of the annual health budgets. Glucose is necessary to life, but it is also poisonous for the body. Its concentration in the blood must be maintained in a tight window. Every time it exits this window, the body suffers repeated damages. A strong excess or strong lack of glucose may cause irreversible harm to the patient. Through accumulation over time, even small excursions may cause severe complications such as cardiovascular diseases, blindness, amputations as well as renal failure, amongst others. Continuous subcutaneous insulin injection (CSII) is probably the most efficient way to control this level today. Insulin is injected on a very regular basis and the amount can be adjusted according to the physical activity of the patient. Today about 10 percents of insulino-dependent patients living in Western countries use CSII. Debiotech’s Nanopump™ is protected by more than 120 patents worldwide, granted and pending. This coverage includes all key components of the pump as well as its packaging. It guarantees exclusivity to Debiotech until 2021.
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