Terumo and Diabeloop Partner to Expand Diabetes Care Offerings

Terumo Corporation and French firm Diabeloop are teaming up to supply Europe with automatic insulin delivery (AID) solutions.

The pair has been working for nearly two years on an AID system in Japan. “We always want to offer more choices to people living with diabetes. This new agreement will allow both companies to keep contributing to diabetes care with a real impact on clinical results while proposing safe and highly effective personalized solutions.” said Erik Huneker, founder and CEO of Diabeloop.

The AID system is used for insulin-dependent diabetes management. It automates and personalizes the treatment and contributes to reducing the heavy mental burden associated with the chronic condition. Hosted on a dedicated handset, the Diabeloop-developed self-learning algorithm is connected to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump. It analyzes the data in real time, and decides whether to maintain current insulin settings or adjust insulin delivery. In Europe and the United States, more people with diabetes are using or want to use AID systems for better glucose control and improved quality of life.
 
Diabeloop’s algorithm solution DBLG1 is currently available in several European markets. In 2018, Terumo launched “MEDISAFE WITH,” an insulin patch pump that is designed to be wearable and lightweight for patient comfort and freedom. Terumo also exclusively distributes the Dexcom CGM system in Japan.
 
“We believe this partnership will provide better treatment options for patients with diabetes around the world. Our vision is for our products and solutions to help patients manage their diabetes better and to make them feel unrestrained from diabetes,” said Yoshiya Kikawa, general manager, DM and Consumer Healthcare Group, Terumo.
 
The two companies will accelerate and strengthen collaboration for AID systems by combining technologies and further addressing unmet medical needs. The pair is hoping to expand its AID system beyond Europe in the future.
 
“It is our pleasure to enter into this strategic partnership agreement. We have been providing solutions in the diabetes area since 1982. Together with Diabeloop, we are confident that we will be able to provide healthcare professionals and patients with value-added solutions not only in Japan but for all corners of the world,” commented Hikaru Samejima, president of Terumo’s General Hospital Company.
 
“We are thrilled to reinforce our partnership with global leader Terumo with this new agreement and expand our contribution to personalized diabetes management via Diabeloop’s interoperable solution. Together we will be able to bring innovation to more people living with diabetes in Europe as well as the rest of the world,” declared Marc Julien, co-CEO of Diabeloop.
 
Initially conceived from a medical research project, Diabeloop was created in 2015 by Dr. Guillaume Charpentier, now chief medical officer, and Huneker, who has co-managed the company with Marc Julien since 2016. This management team works with experienced partners such as French technology research key-player CEA-Leti. In 2018, DBLG1 System, Diabeloop’s first medical device for automated diabetes management, obtained CE marking, followed by DBL-hu, its solution for highly unstable Type 1 diabetes management in 2020. A second round of financing of 31 million euros concluded in November 2019 to speed up the international commercial rollout of the DBLG1 iController and support an ambitious R&D program.
 
Terumo is a global leader in medical technology and is based in Tokyo. Terumo employs more than 25,000 associates worldwide to provide innovative medical solutions in more than 160 countries and regions. The company started as a Japanese thermometer manufacturer, and now provides vascular intervention and cardio-surgical solutions, blood transfusion and cell therapy technology, and medical products essential for daily clinical practice such as transfusion systems, diabetes care, and peritoneal dialysis treatments.