Insulet announces another asset acquisition and more digital health news

Tasso received a CE Mark for its blood collection device, and MindMaze launched Izar, a smart peripheral to help improve a user's hand motor function.
By Jessica Hagen
12:38 pm
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 Photo: Ergin Yalcin/Getty Images

 

Insulin pump maker Insulet has acquired Automated Glucose Control LLC's assets related to its automated insulin delivery technology for $25 million.

The companies have had an established partnership since 2016. The Calif.-based company's founders consulted with Insulet during the development of its Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery system.  

"AGC played a critical role in facilitating the successful translation of research into industry by collaborating closely with Dr. Frank Doyle at the University of California Santa Barbara and with Insulet. It is exciting to see technology come out of the research lab and mature into a commercial application that improves the lives of people with diabetes," Eric Benjamin, executive VP of innovation, strategy and digital products at Insulet, said in a statement. 

This is the second acquisition of assets announced by Insulet this week. The Mass.-based company also acquired assets related to Bigfoot Biomedical's pump-based automated insulin delivery (AID) technologies for $25 million. 


At-home blood collection device maker Tasso received CE Mark certification for its TassoOne Plus, a liquid blood collection device for home diagnostic testing and decentralized clinical trials.

Receipt of the CE Mark allows the Seattle-based company to expand its offering throughout the European market.

Last summer, Tasso received FDA 510(k) clearance for its patch-like home blood collection device, the Tasso+.

"The demand for convenient, patient-centric care is exploding, and Tasso is on a mission to bring high-quality healthcare into homes worldwide,” Ben Casavant, CEO and cofounder of Tasso, said in a statement. "This CE Mark unlocks clinical-grade liquid blood collection for decentralized clinical trials and home healthcare within the European Union, accelerating and expanding access to care. Regulatory clearances like this one are a testament to the quality and safety of our products.”


Digital neurotherapeutic company MindMaze announced the launch of Izar, a smart peripheral for patients with impaired hand motor function aimed at improving hand dexterity and strength.

The handheld device can detect faint levels of a user's finger and hand movements and has accompanying gaming content for self-training to improve pinch, dexterous grasp and grip. 

Izar is available in the U.S. and European countries, such as France, Germany and Switzerland.

"It is very exciting to have a device for the hand that has the versatility of Izar. It can serve as a controller during reach-to-grasp movements, as a trainer of grip force gradation, and as an assessor of dexterity," Dr. John Krakauer, MindMaze's chief medical director, said in a statement. "The device is also highly portable, so it can be used across the continuum of care, which is important as the upper limb, and the hand in particular, gets relatively neglected in neurorehabilitation."

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