As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise worldwide, drug and medical device companies are in a race to meet the growing demands for better management of the disease.
In an apparent bid to provide diabetes patients with better care and outcomes, Minneapolis-based medical device company Medtronic and French drug maker Sanofi announced that they are teaming up to battle diabetes, a condition that affects more than 29 million American adults.
On Saturday, Sanofi and Medtronic announced that they have entered into a partnership to develop a combination of drugs and devices that can improve adherence to therapy and provide better outcomes, as well as deliver care management services that will improve and simplify the insulin treatment of diabetics.
Sanofi produces Lantus, an insulin product used for treating patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes while Medtronic is the biggest maker of heart-rhythm devices worldwide. Their partnership will combine the insulin portfolio of Sanofi with the expertise of Medtronic in medical devices particularly on insulin pumps and blood glucose monitoring. The alliance will primarily focus on providing solutions for diabetes 2 patients who are not able to control their glucose levels despite getting multiple shots of insulin daily.
Up to 95 percent of all diabetes cases are classified as type 2 diabetes, a lifestyle disease. Compared with type 1 diabetes, which primarily affects children and is not preventable, type 2 diabetes can be prevented and managed by engaging in physical activities, losing weight and adopting a healthy diet.
In affected individuals, proper management of the disease is crucial as the condition can put them at risk of unwanted health problems and complications. The Sanofi-Medtronic agreement is focused on simplifying insulin use and improving treatment compliance among patients. The two companies already have an agreement for an implantable insulin pump targeted for patients with type 1 diabetes.
"Sanofi is committed to developing integrated care solutions that focus on making life easier for people with diabetes and improving clinical outcomes that may help reduce costs to the overall healthcare system," Sanofi's Global Divisions & Strategic Development Executive Vice President Pascale Witz said. "Through this important collaboration, Sanofi will tap into technology advances that aim to create holistic treatment solutions which take into account the individual patient's needs."
As of 2012, more than 9 percent of the U.S. population had diabetes, which is up from the 8.3 percent of the rate in 2010. Risks factors of the disease include obesity and lack of physical activity.
