Mayo Clinic has inked a deal with biosensor developer Gentag that will focus on the needs of patients with diabetes and obesity, according to a statement from the provider. It marks Gentag’s first collaboration with a provider.
The terms of the agreement involve Mayo and Gentag working with third parties under license to develop next generation wearable skin patch technologies from Gentag for diabetes and obesity management. The patent agreement with Mayo will license Mayo and Gentag joint IP and know-how will be licensed to third parties that will actually deploy the technology.
Gentag’s skin patch for diabetes is designed to help remotely monitor glucose levels The biosensor is part of a wearable patch that communicates in a closed-loop diabetes management system compatible with mobile phones.
The system will allow researchers to monitor movement and develop treatments for obesity and related conditions.
Gentag CEO and founder John Peeters said in response to emailed questions that the collaboration also involves creating a communication chip that combines Mayo’ Micro-Miniature Transceiver chip with a radar responsive tag developed by Gentag. “The communication chip will enable low power Body Area Networks that can read through tissue, geolocation and long-range communication.”
Peeters said a number of sensors are not expected to need FDA clearance but some sensors, like those for diabetes, are expected to require clearance.
“The clearance process will be undertaken by the licensees of the technology and it is difficult to assess how long this process will be at this time,” Peeters said.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
The technologies are intended to be low cost, painless and disposable so they can be used on a global scale.
