Medtronic allies with JDRF and HCT on artificial pancreas development

Medtronic has entered into a new collaboration with leading diabetes charity JDRF and the Helmsley Charitable Trust (HCT), based around artificial pancreas research and development.

The JDRF-HCT Sensor Initiative will focus on progressing the accuracy and reliability of continuous glucose monitoring to make the technology applicable in the next generation of artificial pancreas systems.

Specifically, it aims to accelerate the development of Medtronic's novel redundant sensor system, which combines an electrochemical sensor and an optical sensor in one device to provide accurate glucose values.

This continues a working relationship between Medtronic and JDRF that commenced with continuous glucose monitoring studies several years ago.

Katie Szyman, president of the diabetes business of Medtronic, said: "Advancing sensor accuracy and reliability is core to both organisations' missions to enable people with diabetes to live longer, healthier lives."

Last month, the company announced results from a clinical study of its Resolute drug-eluting stent, showing the benefits it can offer to heart disease patients with and without diabetes.