Telcare : First-in-class mHealth Connected Glucose Meter Cleared by FDA

August 03, 2011 - Telcare, Inc., an exhibitor at this year’s annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, has just received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to market the Telcare BGM, the first cellular-enabled glucose meter, combined with an FDA-cleared database (Telserve) to aid in the management of diabetes. The device allows patients to transmit their blood glucose readings to caregivers and family members, and receive immediate coaching and clinical feedback relayed to the screen of the glucose meter. The patient does not have to take any additional steps to transmit the data and the cost of the wireless connectivity is included in the price of the device and its accompanying test strips. Thus, users will have a much richer clinical experience at no additional cost when compared to standard glucose meters.
Telcare’s objective is to transform the management of diabetes, from a condition where patients feel cut off from their caregivers and don’t know what to do from day to day, to a model in which the patient is continually empowered to manage his or her condition through continual feedback from caregivers, family members, and even other patients.
The Telcare glucose meter aims to bridge the last mile between patient and caregiver. Real time information is transmitted to the electronic medical record, personal health records, such as Microsoft HealthVault, and a variety of smartphone apps designed to connect patients to family members and to each other. While other marketplace solutions have relied on Bluetooth transmission to cellphones, connections of glucose meters to personal computers and cradles, or requiring the patient to manually enter results into a phone app, Telcare’s solution requires no additional steps on the part of the patient... Telcare’s Press Release -

Echo Therapeutics : Symphony tCGM Demonstration Video

Aug. 9, 2011 - Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECTE), a company developing the Symphony™ tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring (tCGM) system and the Prelude™ SkinPrep System for transdermal drug delivery, announced the unveiling of a much anticipated demonstration video on the Company's website. The new video showcases the features and ease of use of the Symphony continuous glucose monitoring system in a home setting. The Company has released this demonstration video as a result of increasing demands from patients and investors for information regarding how the Symphony tCGM System works.

The launch of the video coincides with the final steps in the planning and preparation of the upcoming clinical study testing the next generation Symphony tCGM System design, which will commence in the near-term... Echo Therapeutics' Press Release -

Amarantus BioSciences and Generex Biotechnology : Collaboration on Cell Therapy for Late Stage Diabetes

Aug. 4, 2011 - Amarantus BioSciences (OTCBB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing a first-in-class anti-apoptosis therapeutic protein known as MANF, and Generex Biotechnology Corporation (OTCBB: GNBT), a biotechnology company developing a buccal insulin spray technology known as Generex Oral-lyn™, currently in a Phase III trial, are making public the details of their intended third joint diabetes research collaboration. In this third research project, the companies will use Amarantus' proprietary PhenoGuard cell immortalization process to develop beta cell replacement therapies to aid diabetes therapy. The two companies are currently planning to develop a MANF-based diagnostic test to identify a sub-population at risk of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes as well as a MANF-based therapeutic to be administered using the RapidMist™ delivery system for the treatment of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.


"The potential of Amarantus' proprietary PhenoGuard cell immortalization process to create a stable source of representative beta cells that can be used in cell replacement therapy in patients who have lost virtually all beta cell function represents a potential major breakthrough for the treatment of chronic, late-stage diabetes," said Dr. James Anderson, Senior Scientific Advisor and Director of Generex. "Patients whose beta cell function is most impaired are the ones most at-risk of developing life-threatening complications of diabetes. Beta cell replacement therapy taken together with the development of a diagnostic test able to track the progression of beta cell dysfunction, and the ability to administer MANF prophylactically and therapeutically to alter the course of beta cell apoptosis and dysfunction in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes disorders, these three research collaboration programs represent major research and development initiatives that could dramatically alter the course of treatment in the diabetes space. The breadth and scope of this research collaboration provides Generex with an incredible opportunity to position itself as a long-term market leader in the treatment of diabetes-related metabolic disorders."... [PDF] Amarantus BioSciences' Press Release - Generex Biotechnology 's Press Release -

Axxam and Polyphor : Research Partnership for the Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Funded by the EU

July 27, 2011 - The partnership between Axxam Spa and Polyphor Ltd receives a three-year EU grant under the Eurostars Program for the generation of innovative GLP-1R modulators - Axxam Spa and Polyphor Ltd announced a joint discovery research project for the generation of GLP-1R modulators. The partnership will receive funding from the EU as part of the Eurostars Program aimed at supporting innovation within the European Union.
The two companies will undertake a three-year research project with the objective of identifying and developing different classes of molecules as novel therapeutic agents to modulate the activity of the Glucagon-like-peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) for the treatment of Type-2 Diabetes.

“Axxam has developed several innovative technologies for drug discovery research of GPCRs including new functional readout systems, like Photina® and chAMPion that set the ground to develop smart screening assays for the identification of GLP-1R modulators,” said Dr. Chiara Liberati, Head of Discovery at Axxam.
Tailored functional assays will be developed to address the different mode of actions offered by the GLP-1R pharmacology like agonists, allosteric modulators as well as molecules reducing receptor desensitization and internalization.
“Polyphor’s innovative technology platforms, PEMfinder® and MacroFinder®, have proven to generate promising PEMdrug candidates and highly potent and selective novel molecular entities, even on challenging biological targets such as protein-protein interactions, GPCRs, ionchannels and the like... [PDF] Axxam's Press Release - [PDF] Polyphor's Press Release -

Eli Lilly India and Lupin : Strategic Collaboration to Help Fight the Battle Against Diabetes

July 29, 2011 - Eli Lilly India (Lilly) and Lupin Limited (Lupin)announced they have entered into a strategic collaboration to promote and distribute Lilly's Huminsulin range of products, including Huminsulin R(TM), Huminsulin NPH(TM), Huminsulin 50/50(TM), Huminsulin 30/70(TM) and Humapen Ergo II. Lupin's India formulations business will promote and distribute the range of products in India and Nepal, virtually doubling the number of sales representatives behind the diabetes care product. This collaboration will double the current customer base; approximately 45,000 doctors will now be called on as a result of the new partnership.

For Lilly, a company whose history in insulin production dates to 1923, caring for diabetes patients in India is clearly a priority. The country has an estimated 51 million people with diabetes currently and will have an estimated 85 million by 2030, or nearly one-fifth of all patients with diabetes globally. Lilly hopes to increase access to Huminsulin(TM) products through its relationship with Lupin India, bringing one of the most basic and proven therapies for diabetes treatment to more patients.

Lupin's India formulation business will deploy a sales force of medical representatives to provide education and resources to physicians and patients. Lupin has a vibrant presence in the Indian pharmaceuticals market and has over the past several years made major strides in expanding its therapy portfolio. Lupin has a robust promotion and distribution setup along with a strong presence in various therapeutic areas, including the fast growing diabetes market. This strategic collaboration will achieve major synergy arising from the strength of the product portfolio of Lilly and the promotion and distribution capabilities of Lupin... Eli Lilly's Press Release - Lupin's Press Release -