Two studies conducted by a Boston based start up to test a pump they are developing have shown that a diabetes drug delivered continuously from the implantable pump resulted in a marked and sustained reduction in blood sugar in patients. This opens possibilities for a once- a- year treatment option to manage the disease.
In the first study involving 460 patients, it was seen that the device when used with standard oral medications resulted in average reductions in HbA1c of 1.4% to 1.7% from an average of 8.5%. In the other study, testing 60 high risk patients with average HbA1c levels of 10.8%, the average reduction was 3.45 points to 7.4%, while 25% of the patients reached the goal of below 7% after nine months of using the pump.
The match stick size device called the ITCA 650 holds up to a year’s supply of a drug already being used to treat Type 2 diabetes and is implanted under the skin in the abdomen. It continuously releases the drug in micro quantities into the body to control blood sugar.
In the advanced stages of the disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, blindness and amputations are among the possible consequences. The constant delivery addresses one of the major challenges in treating the disease which is that of making sure patients take their medicines to keep blood sugar levels under control. Also there is no wastage of the drug and patients get 100% of the benefits out of the drug. Failure to stick to treatments is associated with significant increased medical costs. This is good for patients who are averse to shots in any form.
The company plans to file for approval for 6 month and 12 month pumps with the FDA by early 2016.
( Source: The Wall Street Journal)
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