Insulet (NSDQ:PODD) said today that it inked a deal with Mode Automated Glucose Control to develop an artificial pancreas using its flagship OmniPod device.
The deal would see the Mode AGC algorithm incorporated into the OmniPod glucose management system, the Billerica, Mass.-based company said. The algorithm, co-developed by Insulet medical director Dr. Howard Zisser, Francis Doyle and Eval Dassau at UC Santa Barbara, is being studied in a feasibility trial using an OmniPod prototype and a Dexcom Inc. (NSDQ:DXCM) continuous glucose monitor.
Insulet said an on-body trial is expected to launch later this year.
“Insulet continues to make substantial progress toward incorporating advanced artificial pancreas functionality into the future-generation of OmniPod,” president & CEO Patrick Sullivan said in prepared remarks. “The additional expertise the algorithm inventors bring to Insulet is exceptional, as is the clinical superiority of the algorithm. We are excited to integrate the algorithm into our OmniPod System and to deliver a seamless user experience.”
“I have had the privilege of working closely with Frank Doyle and his colleagues for many years,” Zisser added. “The Doyle group is unquestionably one of the leading artificial pancreas algorithm groups in the world. I look forward to continued collaboration with Frank and Mode AGC on developing Insulet’s OmniPod artificial pancreas system.”
