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NEWS FLASH: JDRF Joins with Animas & DexCom to Build “First-Generation” Artificial Pancreas
Very big news in the diabetes world today, Folks: the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has announced a partnership with insulin pump makers Animas Corp. (a Johnson & Johnson company) to actually start building the first ready-for-market artificial pancreas, i.e. “a fully automated system to dispense insulin … based on real-time changes in blood sugar levels.” DexCom will provide the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for the new system being developed.
I was fortunate to have a direct line yesterday to JDRF officers William Ahearn, Vice President, Strategic Communications; and Aaron Kowalski, Research Director of the organization’s Artificial Pancreas Project, to answer many questions about this announcement.
Before I proceed, I’d like to state: Aaron Kowalski has kindly agreed to answer reader questions directly here at the ‘Mine. After reading this post, please submit your outstanding questions in the comments section below, and we’ll endeavor to answer them in an upcoming Q&A post.
My first question was pretty simple: Hasn’t JDRF already been working with these companies behind closed doors for a while now on tying these technologies together? What’s really happening that’s new here?
“The work we’ve been doing so far is proof-of-concept: proving that CGM can improve patients’ outcomes, proving that algorithms can automate insulin delivery, proving that computer systems can pull it all together for improved control. But today’s announcement is the first step in creating real products that will end up in the hands of people,” said William Ahearn, when I spoke with him yesterday.
“This is more than the Wright Brothers’ dream of creating an airplane; this is developing an F-14,” he added.
According to the announcement, JDRF will provide $8 million in funding over the next three years for this project, with a target of having a first-generation system ready for FDA review within the next four years (give or take).
“One reason we’re so focused on programs like this is the applicability not only to children, but to adults living with Type 1 diabetes — they want things that can help them live better in the near-term,” Ahearn says.
OK, so what kind of life improvements can we actually expect from a first-generation automated pancreas?
The official word is that this first-generation system will be “partially automated,” described as follows:
“An insulin pump (will be) connected wirelessly with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The CGM continuously reads glucose levels through a sensor with a hair-thin sensor wire inserted just below the skin, typically on the abdomen. The sensor would transmit those readings to the insulin pump, which delivers insulin through a small tube or patch* on the body.
“The pump would house a sophisticated computer program that will address safety concerns during the day and night, helping prevent hypoglycemia and extreme hyperglycemia. It would slow or stop insulin delivery if it detected blood sugar was going too low and would increase insulin delivery if blood sugar was too high.
“For example, the system would automatically discontinue insulin delivery to help prevent hypoglycemia, and then automatically resume insulin delivery based on a specific time interval (i.e., 2 hours) and/or glucose concentration. It will also automatically increase insulin delivery to reduce the amount of time spent in the hyperglycemic range and return to a pre-set basal rate once glucose concentrations have returned to acceptable levels.
“In this early version … the patient would still need to manually instruct the pump to deliver insulin at times (i.e. around meals). But this ‘hypoglycemia-hyperglycemia minimizer’ system would represent a significant step forward in diabetes management, and could provide immediate benefits in terms of blood sugar control, by minimizing dangerous highs and lows.”
* From this description, it sounds like Animas is working on some version of a patch pump (tubeless) to rival the OmniPod system. Could this possibly explain why Medtronic was not selected as the partner of choice here, despite already having an integrated insulin pump/CGM system on the market? (Medtronic just announced yet another year’s delay of its planned patch pump, originally slated to be ready for FDA evaluation in 2010).
“This is not an exclusive arrangement by any stretch. We hope to work with multiple partners,” Ahearn says, when queried on the topic.
Aaron Kowalski explains: “DexCom and Animas are already working on a combo product that’s supposed to launch this year. It will look a lot like the Medtronic integrated system, with a traditional pump and CGM tied together. Our thinking was, could we start to build some automation into this system… to help make an impact on limiting diabetic complications? I think we can.”
How is it possible to even think about a marketable “closed-loop” system, when today’s CGMs aren’t even deemed accurate enough to determine insulin dosing without doing a fingerstick to double-check? (they are currently approved by the FDA only as “adjunctive therapy.”)
“That’s the million-dollar question,” Kowalski says. “The sensors aren’t perfect, but we’re not shooting for perfection, we’re shooting to shave off the time that people spend in the very high and low range, and get them to spend more time safely in the middle.”
According to JDRF studies, he notes, the average person with diabetes spends over 12 hours a day at BG levels over 180 (!), and that’s with an A1C of 7.8. By developing algorithms set to a target range, rather than some arbitrary target number, they hope to significantly improve patient’s well-being and their long-term outcomes.
“The people struggling most, often kids and teens, are spending a tremendous amount of time with too-high blood sugar. Our ‘treat-to-target range’ aims to provide a buffer away from the hypos and hypers.”
Part of that is the automatic shut-off if your BG drops too low overnight, for example. “If you’re at 40 and you’re asleep, do you really want your pump to continue delivering insulin?”
Of course there’s the concern that the pump will shut off unnecessarily, causing your BG to spike too high. But the JDRF has enough data from previous trials to assess how often that really happens, and set the algorithms to avoid known error points, Kowalski says.
OK, I have no doubt that an automated system minimizing BG highs and lows could be an enormous help. But will it be liveable? Aesthetics freak that I am, I wanted to know: What might this new system actually look like (and feel like, 24/7)? Do prototypes of the described system already exist, from earlier clinical trials?
Apparently not yet, beyond a primitive pump/CGM connection via a bunch of clunky tech paraphernalia. That’s what this announcement is all about, according to Ahearn.
“We’ve shown that we can do it (run a viable AP system) in hospital settings, with a lot of cables and PC monitors running. Now we’re going to take things from the concept phase and make them work in the real world. We’ll be working on miniaturization, making the system liveable, how to get it reimbursed by insurance carriers, and clinical pathways for FDA approval,” he says.
More good news is that the FDA has already committed to taking a proactive role in developing an artificial pancreas.
Clinical trials for this new system could begin as early as 8 months from now, Kowalski says. Anyone interested in submitting their name for possible inclusion in these studies can do so here.
As Ahearn notes, “this is science and nothing is a given.” Who knows what obstacles this project may encounter? Nevertheless, I think this announcement makes today a pretty happy day for people living with Type 1 diabetes!
Don’t forget: you can submit your questions for Mr. Kowalski below. We’ll do our best to address all queries here soon.
Exciting news! You noted that this is basically a Johnson & Johnson deal, but given the other partnerships JDRF has facilitated, how soon might similar products from some of the other vendors be out? Does JDRF expect more widespread insurance coverage as a result of the improvements in functionality?
Posted by: Scott S | January 13th, 2010 at 9:04 amThis might be the only thing that would convince me to break my 10 year relationship with Medtronic Minimed. I really am not a fan of Animas pumps (their screen looks like an old-school PC from the 90s), and have always had good experiences with Minimed customer service. But if this thing works, then, well, who am I to argue with progress?
Posted by: Allison Blass | January 13th, 2010 at 9:05 amThis is not a question, but please JDRF and Aminas, for the love of all that is good, make it ONE integrated device with ONE set. PLEASE! (If possible of course…) And thanks Amy for the exclusive info… you are so great!
Posted by: Type 1 for 24 years | January 13th, 2010 at 9:10 amI guess my question is basically how can I get one? How can we get involved in the clinical trials?
And I’m in the same boat as Allison. I’ve stuck with Minimed for 10 years because they’ve always been on the cutting edge. This would likely be the only thing to make me switch!
Posted by: Colleen | January 13th, 2010 at 9:39 amThanks for the interesting post Amy!
Medtronic released the Paradigm Veo system in Europe, which stops insulin delivery for a period of time in response to a low (http://www.medtronic.co.uk/your-health/diabetes/device/insulin-pumps/paradigm-veo-pump/index.htm). How much more advanced will this be? I know many find the Dexcom CGMS more accurate than the MiniMed one, but I wonder why this step is being treated as such a break through? I think that stopping the pumps due to lows is less dangerous than doses because of highs. Dosing for a false high could be immediately fatal.
I would be curious about how many CGMS users feel that their system is accurate enough for insulin delivery to be decided on it. Will the project be using Dexcom’s existing technology or is their a need to improve its accuracy before integration?
What about active insulin/ insulin on board? Will the system take into account how long it has been since I’ve eaten and how much active insulin is working?
In short, I feel that an artificial pancreas needs to have a BIG brain to make all the subtle decisions that we make in our daily life. I dose differently based on SO many factors.
I’m glad this research is going on, but I’m still waiting for a cure!!!
Posted by: Kristin | January 13th, 2010 at 10:56 amThis is fantastic news. Personally, I am very excited that Animas was chosen because their pump is waterproof!! This to me has been a deal-breaker condition for any pump that I use. For something that I wear 24/7 I shouldn’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain. Also it would be so exciting to have a record during swimming. I know this is not a huge concern to most people, but it makes me very happy.
I imagine it would be less optimal to have periods being disconnected with a system like this as well.l
Also my experience with the Dexcom was mostly positive–I never had any problems with the sensor staying on and it (the sensor) was the smallest of the three CGMs (at the time I was using it anyway). I always thought when I was using that there was no reason I should not have perfect BG control while I was sleeping or when otherwise in a “steady state” condition. It sounds like a really good step forward to me. Obviously the CGM technology still needs to improve but it sounds like they are addressing the reliability issues.
My question is… what if I am exercising? I might still want to set a temporary basal rate. Is there a mode on the pump to disable automatic insulin adjustments? The biggest issue with diabetes control is the time lags between insulin action, food action, exercise etc. How would it handle a very dynamic situation?
And I second the motion that there be only one receiver/pump device. I will cry tears of joy if this really works. And reclaim some of my brain space.
Posted by: Anne Findlay | January 13th, 2010 at 11:03 amMe again, with one more question!
Any thoughts about incorporating glucagon or another substance to raise blood sugars into the pump? How many of your correct lows by turning your pump off? This is much to slow to raise blood sugar immediately.
Posted by: Kristin | January 13th, 2010 at 11:08 amTo use a bowling analogy, this seems like something that will help us keep from throwing gutter balls, but not necessarily bowl strikes without us continuing to think like a pancreas. Don’t get me wrong, staying out of the gutter is a good thing, and I welcome this technology!
But I’d be interested to know how they plan to allow for overrides based on changes of plans, or recent experience that the dosing algorithm hasn’t caught up with yet. Will it require a regimented lifestyle of “feeding the machine” to calibrate and keep it humming accurately? Are they going to work on shortening the calibration period of the CGM piece? I love my CGM, but it will have to get a lot more accurate before I would trust my life to it 24X7. Call me a skeptic, but I’m betting we are more than the magic 5 years away from this. Hope I’m wrong though! Competition is good, and perhaps that will drive both Minimed and J&J to forge ahead with urgency.
Posted by: Carol | January 13th, 2010 at 11:59 amGreat news to diabetics type 1 everywhere.
Posted by: the poor diabetic | January 13th, 2010 at 3:00 pmHopefully this product is out soon for practical use.
The first thing that comes to mind is concern over patents. I feel that, ultimately, we lost our daughter’s Cozmo because of MM lawsuits.
I would like to be assured that no one is infringing on anyone else’s technology/patents for fear that it will be swiped into oblivion by a court system after it becomes a part of our life.
Beyond all that, I’d like to know if it will intrinsically account for IOB (from both carbs &/or corrections) when determining if more/less insulin is necessary at any given moment.
Thank you!
Posted by: Wendy | January 13th, 2010 at 3:25 pmThis is an interesting blend of for-profit capitalism and non-profit donated research money. I wish the parties best of luck. Voluntary donors to JDRF may have some questions, such as . . .
How much and what percentage of the research and development money is each party contributing? Why do Animas and Dexcom need JDRF’s money?
If the proposed artificial pancreas is successful, what is JDRF’s percentage of the future profits?
When and if this project ever starts making money, will we be able to trust that JDRF’s recommendations are based on science rather than financial ties to Animas and Dexcom?
-Steve
Posted by: Steve Parker, M.D. | January 13th, 2010 at 4:03 pmI’ve looked at the video on the JDRF web site. If this algorithm is runnning on a laptop (with a presumably strong processor and lots of memory) does the JDRF/Animas team feel confident they can incorporate it into the small form factor of a pump? Processors and memory are always shrinking but I’d love to know if this is a big challenge. If not, why will it take years to get a working prototype to the FDA for review? Put me on the record as a pump user for 13 years who’d be willing to wear a larger pump if it held such promising teachnology.
Posted by: David Downs | January 13th, 2010 at 7:17 pmAlthough this is a great step forward, I am concerned that the money spent by the JDRF is going to only benefit one team (Animas/Dexcom). This should be an open source effort where the algorithms developed by this effort should be made available to all pump companies to implement as they see fit (tube, tubeless, small form factor, two units, etc). Competition is great for the patients and it seems that Animas just got a big chunk of money to move them forward.
I apologize if I’m wrong and the plan is to do this all along but I don’t believe I read it in the info that has been made available today…
Posted by: Freddie | January 13th, 2010 at 8:16 pmI thought JDRF was interested in finding a cure???? Are you basically saying JDRF is are not interested in using their 8 MILLION DOLLARS for a real cure, but rather some new man-made money making devise???
Posted by: Cathy | January 13th, 2010 at 8:17 pmI agree with Cathy. What happened to JDRF spending money for a cure?! This device is for profit…come on..do they really think pharma will shell out lots of money for a cure which puts their profits at risk? WHy not use this money to fund research for a cure? I think pharma would do the devices without JDRF helping them.
Posted by: Laura | January 14th, 2010 at 6:45 amWhy did JDRF choose Animas over Medtronic? Given that about 70% of pumpers use Medtronic products, wouldn’t it be more helpful to help them develop this? If this device is successful and marketed is JDRF receiving anything?
Posted by: Nathan | January 14th, 2010 at 7:04 amAnimas over Medtronic? I guess this falls under follow the money maybe? Animas is a Johnson and Johnson company. Woody Johnson is a former or current director at JDRF and a Johnson and Johnson company heir. He is also the father of Casey Johnson the socialite that recently died and was a type 1 diabetic. Coincidence that Animas got the gig, maybe, maybe not.
Posted by: Paul | January 14th, 2010 at 7:19 amFOUR years? What’s the hold up. We’ve been hearing about the artificial pancreas for years and years. I still only considered it a way to stay healthier until Dr. Denise Faustman at Harvard Medical has her promising CURE approved and available.
Posted by: Jill L | January 14th, 2010 at 7:36 amMaybe JDRF should rename their walks “JDRF walk for a Bandaid” in lieu of a cure. I am very disappointed with this news. A company like Johnson and Johnson should not need this extra money. Maybe I should just buy Johnson and Johnson stock with what would be money donated to JDRF and get in on the monopoly.
Posted by: Fred H | January 14th, 2010 at 8:41 amI’d rather see a cure too but I think this is a good middle step. It is something that can really happen whereas a “cure” is something that maybe will happen someday. As for the feasibility, as an engineer who programs computers and small micro-controllers, I don’t see any problem from a technical standpoint of implementing the artificial pancreas algorithm on a small handheld device. I do have some concerns about the accuracy of the CGM part though. My daughter uses an Animas pump and we have been very happy with it. A pump is a pump, the different brands really and not that different. Yeah, this smells a little bit with Johnson & Johnson seeming to gain from some of our JDRF donation money. But, if it speeds up the development and FDA process then I am happy. My daughter will be a teenager in five years so this device will be a godsend for us.
Posted by: tom | January 14th, 2010 at 4:49 pmI’m really getting sick and tired of the JDRF’s “Dedicated to finding a cure”. No you’re not. Change your slogan already and stop deceiving people.
It seems like a fitting one is, “Dedicated to helping billion dollar companies with good press and increasing their shareholders value.” JDRF will respond: “Well, we’re helping diabetics”. Well, then stop saying yourmain goal is a cure.
Fred, you are right. I’d rather buy J&J stock with my Etrade account than give to the JDRF this year. Sure, I’ll have to pay $9.99 in commissions through Etrade, but I can only imagine how much JDRF is taking in between my pocket and them writing a check to J&J. DRI here I come.
Posted by: Type1er | January 14th, 2010 at 6:25 pmMy question is, will insurance cover this?! Medtronics “Guardian” has been on the market for several years, yet I still do not own one simply because insurance will not cover it! Are you telling me I am going to have to wait 4 years for this technology, which insurance won’t cover for another 5 years atleast? And then have to buy some new upgraded artificial pancreas that doesn’t require meal boluses? Forgive me for being a little angry, but I would much rather have a cure. I do enjoy and welcome anything that makes my life with diabetes easier, and I would definitely use an artificial pancreas, but I want it to be done right. I don’t want to wait 4 years for something that will shutoff when I am going low and increase my basal when I’m high, but leave me doing the majority of the work. If we have to wait four years, we should be given an actual artificial pancreas that does the job of a pancreas, not an insulin pump with “pancreas-like” features. So I guess that leaves me with two questions:
1. Why do they want to fall short of a true artificial pancreas and leave the bolusing to us? Why not go the full mile and make a revolutionary product that will completely change our lives from the get go, instead of one that leaves us waiting for an upgrade?
2. Will you be working with insurance companies in the years prior to the release to ensure swift coverage on this “aritificial pancreas”, or will it go off into insurance la-la land once it is released, where we are stuck waiting and fighting for another 5 to 10 years to get this product at an affordable level?
Posted by: John | January 15th, 2010 at 2:39 amWill JDRF let us earmark our fundraising money to go towards a cure? The JDRF sample walk letter is deceiving. I hope they change that. I’m all for an artificial pancreas, but for my family we ask our family and friends to “walk” with us and we’re focused on an end all cure. That’s our personal goal that we want to support financially. We’ll assess where that is being best accomplished.
Posted by: laurie | January 15th, 2010 at 5:48 amWow! I have to say that I am truly amazed at the backlash directed at JDRF and J&J.
The reality is that without the contributions of many, many for-profit and not-for-profit entities, we would all be diagnosing diabetes like the Greeks did, by peeing on an anthill to see if the ants came up to feast on the sugar.
Oh yeah, and after we found out we were diabetic, we would all die.
Lighten up, folks. This is good news..
Posted by: Bob | January 15th, 2010 at 1:07 pmMy future donations are going into diabetes company stocks and startups instead of JDRF so that when JDRF pumps money into them I’ll make a big enough return to cover my out of pocket diabetes costs. Anyone else notice the spike on DXCM currently trading at almost $10 a share?
Posted by: Penny | January 15th, 2010 at 1:25 pmBob – come join us, down here on planet earth brother! Doctors who gave a shit found porcine insuline. Pharmas patented synthetics to make a buck. And John is right, JDRF lies about what they will use funds for – a cure.
Posted by: Dave Walker | January 15th, 2010 at 1:31 pmBob, the problem is that those for-profit and non-for profit entities have been mislead by JRDF. JDRF is a non-profit who’s mantra is, “JDRF dedicated to finding a cure” Now they are providing $8 Million in funding to a project that can only benefit select public, for-profit companies for a project that is not a cure. I’m sure that a decent portion of that $8 million was raised during “For the Cure” events by companies that compete with J&J. I don’t blame J&J for jumping on it, but in my opinion JDRF crossed the line here.
Posted by: Eric | January 15th, 2010 at 2:00 pm@Cathy et al – I’m also surprised at all the rancor.
JDRF is investing just $8M out of $100M in research funds for this – a pretty small percentage in the grand scheme of things. They’re doing so at the request of so many PWDs and their families who feel that although research toward a cure is paramount, they also want some help in living with this disease in the here and now.
Posted by: AmyT | January 15th, 2010 at 2:43 pmSo Amy…… JDRF has $100 MILLION dollars….. what ARE they doing for a cure???
Posted by: Cathy | January 15th, 2010 at 6:39 pmAmy, much of the rancor comes because of the obvious conflict of interest inherent in the JDRF/J&J relationship. It smells bad. J&J does not need JDRF’s 8 million dollars, and I did not bust my hump raising money for JDRF to have it given to JOHNSON & JOHNSON. Ridiculous.
JDRF is trying to push the AP as a cure, and it’s bunk. If my kid has to wear a machine to live, he is not “cured” by any definition of the word.
JDRF should be ashamed.
Posted by: Megan | January 15th, 2010 at 7:51 pmHey, I’m just an old guy living with a pump that has made me healthier, and has made my life dramatically less complicated.
I don’t see how this initiative is contradictive to the JDRF stated goal. Is it possible that this project is the best way they have found to create a bridge to the cure?
Should JDRF stop all their other activities? The education resources they provide don’t contribute to finding a cure. The local offices they have aren’t finding a cure. Contributions to developing new and better insulin don’t find a cure. Their CGM study, named a top ten medical breakthrough in 2008, doesn’t find a cure.
I like to believe that the experts at JDRF are a bit more informed than me and are doing what is best for us.
As I said earlier, I just don’t get the backlash. Many folks here are deriding JDRF for this move. If you have spent any time learning about JDRF, you should know that one of their publicly stated goals is to see the development of an artificial pancreas. Maybe… just maybe, considering the AMAZING complexity of this condition, that IS the cure.
Dave asked me to come down to Earth. I think I have my feet firmly planted. I absolutely have no facts to back this up, but Dave, I would wager that those doctors, God love them, who developed porcine insulin, were at least partially funding by the pharmaceutical industry.
If finding the cure were easy, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
Posted by: Bob | January 15th, 2010 at 10:36 pmMinimed has been the leader in cgms technology to date. Minimed has had a pump integrated with cgms for YEARS and has brought to market in the U.K. a pump that turns off automatically when the PWD’s blood sugar hits 50. So JDRF chooses…… J&J and Animas! The Animas pump is STILL not integrated with Dexcom. I, too, find JDRF’s ties to J&J heir Woody Johnson suspect. I say this although we use the Minimed pump and Dexcom (which we prefer despite the fact fails to track her blood sugars reliably the minute she goes to sleep with ??? much of the night; I can’t stay up ALL night tracking her blood sugars, only part of it). We had trialed the Minimed cgms and both were not accurate enough to dose for highs from. Minimed’s pump has been a leader in the industry and JDRF, which, supposedly, is funded by Parent’s donations, choosing ONE pump company over all the others is reprehensible. This technology needs to be available to all. JDRF should not be entering into private deals with members on their Board. Conflict of interest? You bet!
Posted by: Jan | January 16th, 2010 at 4:28 amP.S. Not opposed to JDRF spending a portion of their funds on the Artificial Pancreas, Smart Insulin or other emerging technologies to make life for PWDs safer and more manageable before a cure is found. It is the partnering with J&J solely, to the exclusion of other pump manufacturers that I question. I would also like to know why JDRF will not help fund Faustman’s research or LTC, who are in promising trials with encapsulated porcine islets. At one point, I would have surmised JDRF would not fund LTC (despite promising clinical trials to date) because it is a private company but partnering with J&J puts this theory to rest. I believe Faustman’s research indicates she could cure a percentage of PWDs out of honeymoon (percentage is yet to be determined, but it could be a high percentage and even a small percentage cured would be extremely promising). JDRF choosing to fund certain research, while ignoring very promising leads….. I find this baffling.
Posted by: Jan | January 16th, 2010 at 4:46 amI am a 12 year old Type 1 Diabetic. I think this is the stupidest thing JDFR has done! This in all means isnt a cure. Who would want to wear something on their skin 24/7 anyway. This to me is like the same method as a pump, but only calling it a “cure”. This device wont even be handed out to everyone who is a diabetic anyway. This is a total waste of money and should be used for more logical things. The JDRF should be helping Faustman’s cure by giving her money to do so. It sounds like the JDRF has a lot of money and isnt helping diabetics, Why would anyone want to wear a device on themselves for the rest of their lives when they know that Foustman has the real cure that u can totally forget about diabetes and live normally. They should just give the 8 million dollars to people who actaully need it like the people in Haiti who had the horrible earthquake or to the people who are starving. WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY!!!
Posted by: Rachel | January 16th, 2010 at 7:51 amAfter pumping for 7 years, when it comes to being the first to market, my bet is still with Minimed. Especially considering they already have the Veo pump in Europe as the other poster commented. Animas + Dexcom have just started working on the techonology? If so, they will bring their version out several years after Minimed.
I am a bit confused on the spin that both Animas and JDRF put on this topic in both the press release and on the video on the JDRF website. Both parties act like Animas is the only company with this technology and they will be the first to market. We know this not to be the case since the Veo is ALREADY AVAILABLE in Europe.
I just can’t wait until the FDA approves the Veo for the United States.
Posted by: Clarke | January 16th, 2010 at 8:47 pmSorry, I had one more thought. The Animas sales rep and nurse both say that they don’t believe in an integrated system claiming there should be a human brain when it comes to dosing. The Animas sales rep wears the pump but refuses to wear the Dexcom or the Guardian. He claims he knows his body better than a computer and that he wants to be the one in control.
I am certain he will be calling me soon promoting his new found belief in an integrated system since his company MIGHT one day get this technology.
Don’t fool yourself. This entire collaboration between JDRF and Animas boils down to money and revenue. Sad when the source of that revenue is us patients.
Posted by: Clarke | January 16th, 2010 at 8:54 pmWe need faster acting insulin before this can become reality, Humalog/Apidra/Novolog are still not fast enough to correct BS swings like a pancreas can. What we have available now is just not good enough for the desired outcome, 15 minutes to take effect and a two hour IOB time are just too imprecise.
Posted by: MoHo | January 17th, 2010 at 10:38 pmWhat about the counter-regulatory side, too. Not sure I want just an artificial pancreas if I can’t have an artificial liver, too?
Posted by: Penny | January 18th, 2010 at 9:11 pmI’m thankful people are finally waking up and seeing JDRF’s true colors. I have said since my son’s diagnosis (four years ago) that the powers that be at JDRF are in it for profit. It was quite obvious to me at the very beginning of my son’s diagnosis. An artificial pancreas is not a cure. It’s not even in close, in my book. It is a glorified pump. Since my son’s diagnosis all I’ve heard about is the money that JDRF is pouring into the artificial pancreas. I’d like my money to go towards a cure, thanks. Sure, they throw a bit at research here and there so they can say they are helping. I was suspicious of them in the beginning and when they announced they would not donate even one dime to Dr. Faustman’s research I knew for sure where they stood. That’s where my money goes. Dr. Faustman’s research may not pan out. But, at least I know that I’m not lining someone else’s pockets with my money and there is at least a shot that it will help find a cure.
Posted by: PHR | January 19th, 2010 at 10:27 amI’d like to comment about what PHR said….. this whole JDRF thing really did open my eyes… I didn’t realize JDRF had sooo much money and what a huge organization it is…..JDRF’s 2008 IRS Form 990 reported the CEO James Tyree received $ 531,040.00 in compensation and the VP research Arnold Donald received $507,068.00
Looking back to the 2007 IRS Form 990… Arnold Donald was the Pres and CEO and received $616,875.00 while Dr. Richard Insel was the VP Research received $539,216.00
When the kids are walking for the JDRF…. do they realize how much the CEO, etc. are making??
I’d feel bad for making that much money off of people’s hard earned donations, but that is my opinion.
Is this the fleecing of Children in America who have a horrible life burdening disease.??
Thanks for listening.
Posted by: Cathy | January 19th, 2010 at 1:34 pmWow. Something this important and only 46 posts? If there was ever something worth a full press conference to communicate why and what we should expect, this would be it.
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