Swiss Companies Debiotech and Valtronic Announce Partnership Agreement on the JewelPUMP for Diabetic Patients
LAUSANNE and LES CHARBONNIERES, Switzerland, February 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ –
Both Swiss companies, Debiotech SA and Valtronic SA, announced today that they have
entered into an exclusive partnership agreement regarding the manufacturing of the
electronic Controller unit for Debiotech’s novel insulin “JewelPUMPTM”. Representing the
most advanced use of microfluidic MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology in
diabetes treatment, the watertight pump can be mounted on a disposable skin patch to
provide continuous insulin infusion and is controlled by a dedicated smartphone device
incorporating a BGM (blood-glucose meter), thus enabling substantial improvements in the
treatment efficiency and the quality of life of diabetic patients.
JewelPUMPTM: Picture Link 1
[http://www.debiotech.com/home/images/picture1.png ] Picture Link 2 [
http://www.debiotech.com/home/images/picture2.png ]
The highly miniaturized disposable insulin pump combines Debiotech’s expertise in
insulin delivery systems with Valtronic’s experience in manufacturing high-quality and
ultra-miniaturized electronic devices.
“The collaboration with Valtronic in Switzerland and in the US is an integral part of
our objective to provide the best product manufactured by the best companies in the
world,” said Dr. Frederic Neftel, President and CEO of Debiotech. “We are now engaged in a
large scale production effort to make sure the JewelPUMP will be made available to every
diabetic patient in the soonest possible time to ensure a better Quality of Life, while
also improving reliability and performance of insulin delivery with a pump.”
“The collaboration with Debiotech on the JewelPUMP fits our strategy extremely well of
participating in the most exciting medical device products, while contributing to patient
safety and therapeutic efficacy,” says Martin Zimmermann, President and CEO of Valtronic.
“At Valtronic we strive to bring our expertise to highly innovative projects like the
JewelPUMP and ensure a full commitment and support to our Partner.”
“Since one year, we have enjoyed an outstanding work together with Valtronic to
achieve the goal of making the JewelPUMP a reality for the diabetes community and this
Agreement represents the natural outcome of such successful collaboration,” says
Laurent-Dominique Piveteau, Business Development Director at Debiotech.
“The development of the partnership with Debiotech and the continuous support to
achieve the level of quality required to manufacture the JewelPUMP is an example of
success for Valtronic and we are now proud to prepare for the product market launch,” says
Alberto Botta, Assistant Vice President Principal client Advisor at Valtronic.
The JewelPUMP is smaller, thinner and lighter than currently available insulin pumps,
while incorporating double the amount of insulin (5mL), and is a nearly invisible skin
patch which can be worn for a 7-day treatment. It is directly controlled by the patient
from a dedicated cell-phone remote control device, which also serves as a telephone and a
BGM (Blood Glucose Meter) on a secured Android platform.
The JewelPUMP incorporates a Microfluidic technology manufactured by ST
Microelectronics, the world leading MEMS manufacturing company, to provide better control
of the administered insulin doses, while detecting potential malfunctions of the pump to
further protect the patient. The JewelPUMP is composed of a disposable pump-reservoir unit
and an electronic Controller unit that can be used for up to two years. The Controller
unit that will be manufactured by Valtronic integrates a number of functionalities, both
for the operation of the pump unit and the highly secured communication with the remote
smartphone device, as well as a large number of sensors and actuators (e.g. vibrator and
acoustic alarm, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, accelerometer and cannula detector).
During the ATTD Congress in Paris, starting on February 27th, Debiotech will
demonstrate the commercial version of the JewelPUMP which is currently on the way to the
CE marking.
About Debiotech
Debiotech has specialized, for over twenty years, in the research and development of
innovative medical devices in the field of implantable and external drug delivery systems
for the treatment of severe diseases such as diabetes, renal failure, cardiovascular
diseases and cancer. The Company’s products are based on micromechanics and
nanotechnologies as well as novel technologies. Debiotech has numerous exclusive license
agreements with leading companies in the medical device and pharmaceutical fields and
holds over 500 patents worldwide. Further information on Debiotech can be found at
http://www.debiotech.com and specific information on the JewelPUMPTM at
http://www.jewelpump.com.
About Valtronic
Valtronic is an advanced technology “Mechatronics” manufacturing solution company. We
develop and produce complete and valuable integrated electronic and mechanical products.
Among Valtronic’s customers are the leading global suppliers of medical devices and
implants, diagnostic equipment and sensitive aerospace and industrial companies. For over
30 years, Valtronic has helped hundreds of companies to launch thousands of Class II & III
medical devices and advanced miniaturized electronic assemblies from our facilities
worldwide. Further information on Valtronic can be found at http://www.valtronic.com.
Notes for editors
- MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology exploits the mechanical
as well as the electrical properties of silicon. In conventional silicon chips,
electrons move within the static silicon. However, silicon also has several important
mechanical properties: it is stronger than steel yet has a high elasticity. The
techniques that are used to build silicon transistors can also be adapted to build
microscopic silicon structures such as cantilevers, springs and even gears that are
capable of physical movement, allowing the manufacture of highly miniaturized sensors
and activators, using nearly the same semiconductor manufacturing technology that has
produced affordable computers, communication equipment and automotive electronics.
- There are almost 280 million people affected by diabetes worldwide and the
number is expected to grow to 350 million over the next decade due to population
growth, aging and life style. Without proper treatment, diabetes can lead to
cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage and ultimately death.
Diabetes is a leading cause of death in most developed countries. There are two types
of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs most often in children or young adults and
accounts for 5-10% of the diagnosed diabetes patient population. It is characterized
by loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the
pancreas, leading to a deficiency of insulin. Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset
diabetes, accounts for 90-95% of diagnosed diabetes cases worldwide, typically
developing in middle-aged adults. It is characterized differently due to insulin
resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity, combined with relatively reduced insulin
secretion. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is growing at a faster rate than that of
type 1 across the developed countries as it is related to the increase in obesity and
aging demographic profile.
- There are today almost 500,000 diabetic patients using insulin pumps in the
US, which represents almost 25% of diabetic Type 1 patients. In the next 5 years, the
pump market is expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 13% and by 2015 about 40% of
diabetic type 1 patients may benefit from pump therapy in the US. It is also estimated
that about a third of diabetic Type 2 patients may also be treated using a pump.
Press Contacts:
Laurent-Dominique Piveteau
Business Development Director
Debiotech SA
Phone: +41-21-623-60-00
Fax: +41-21-623-60-01
email: ld.piveteau@debiotech.com
Alberto Botta
Assistant VP, Principal Client Advisor
Valtronic SA
Phone: +41-21-841-0111
Fax: +41-21-841-0222
email: ABotta@valtronic.com
SOURCE Debiotech SA
