LifeScan and Animas strengthen diabetes device collaboration

LifeScan is to work more closely with collaborative partner Animas in the development of new medical device products for sufferers of diabetes.

The two companies – which are both owned by Johnson and Johnson but have been working together since prior to Animas' acquisition – will involve a greater degree of co-development and co-promotion activities than before.

Among the products that will be affected by this closer co-marketing arrangement will be the OneTouch Ping Glucose Management System, which was the first product to be collaboratively created by the firms.

Meanwhile, pipeline innovations that will benefit from the alliance include LifeScan's new glucose monitoring platform and Animas' continuous glucose monitoring-enabled insulin pump and artificial pancreas project.

Michel Paul, group chairman of the Johnson and Johnson family of diabetes companies, said: "Together, we will work to advance care for people with diabetes, as well as education and research for families and healthcare professionals, to ultimately enable diabetes patients to maintain better blood glucose control."

LifeScan's blood glucose monitoring products were highlighted as a key driver of business growth for Johnson and Johnson's medical device division in the first quarter of 2011.