Occuity has signed a preliminary agreement with world-leading research-driven pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim, to enter their start-ups acceleration program, and develop and exploit Occuity's patented glucose monitoring technology to help animals suffering from diabetes.
Occuity's handheld technology works by shining a low-power beam of light into the eye and detecting the changes in refractive index in the aqueous humour that correlate closely with changes in its glucose concentration.
Currently being developed for use in humans, the technology within the device can take measurements in a few seconds. As our technology is completely non-contact. it is potentially ideally suited for veterinary use. We have already performed in-house testing that has demonstrated the alignment technology (used in the PM1 Pachymeter) works very well on animals.
Occuity CEO, Dan Daly commented: “We have long thought about the potential application of our technology in veterinary. Diabetes in dogs and cats can occur at any age – most commonly older than 6 years of age for cats and usually 4-14 years of age for dogs – just like diabetes in humans, it’s a growing problem.
The project will be complementary to our work on human glucose monitoring as there is a significant cross-over and we believe it will help us accelerate the G1/Indigo project. Also, as there are fewer regulatory hurdles, the veterinary market offers the potential for earlier revenues.
I am delighted to have signed this agreement and look forward to progressing the project with the team at Boehringer Ingelheim.”
Boehringer Ingelheim Open innovation digital Director, Frederic Dimur commented:
"As part of our startup program Synapse Acceleration® we are delighted to work with Occuity which has been selected for the 6th edition. We are looking forward to exploring both technical feasibility and veterinary usability to tackle the challenge of diabetes management in pets.”
Boehringer Ingelheim:
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. More than 52,000 employees serve over 130 markets in three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com