In light of November being Diabetes Awareness Month, we are delighted to share additional and promising findings from Occuity's prototype for diabetes screening, the 'SD1.' This project is built on Occuity's patented technology platform and has seen accelerated progress thanks to the support from a recently awarded InnovateUK Biomedical Catalyst grant.
Just two weeks ago, we published a report of the encouraging results of early internal tests involving the assessment of six individuals. The results indicated positive outcomes, confirming the success of this project phase. The primary objective was to demonstrate our technology's effectiveness in detecting Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs), a specific eye marker, with the required sensitivity. This success is evident in the initial findings.
What are Advanced Glycation End-Products?
AGEs are compounds that form in the body as a result of the interaction between glucose and lysine groups in proteins. This process initially generates glycated proteins, which, over time, further react to produce AGEs. These AGEs are distributed throughout the body, including the lens of the eye. Remarkably, and for our needs usefully, the cells within the eye lens do not undergo turnover, leading to AGE retention over time.
This unique characteristic makes the lens a valuable marker for assessing an individual's glucose levels over an extended period. As a person ages, the concentration of AGEs in the lens increases, particularly in the presence of diabetes or prediabetes. Although AGEs are present throughout the body, the eye emerges as the most practical location for optical detection. Elevated AGE concentrations can indicate the presence of diabetes or prediabetes, emphasizing the importance of early detection for effective preventive measures.
Internal Study v.2.0
With the positive results of our first study indicating the SD1 technology was effective, the team worked hard to further develop the prototype to improve both its sensitivity and stability. A second larger internal study was then conducted and again delivered promising results. This study involved 27 people, including two with known diabetes and, similar to the first trial, the signal level from the instrument was plotted against the age of the subject. The initial report has now been updated to include the results of the second study which can be seen in the graph below.
Occuity's goal is to revolutionise the identification and management of major healthcare issues, placing early screening and diagnosis at the forefront of this mission. Currently, there is a lack of a widespread screening program for diabetes, as the prevailing approach involves waiting until individuals display symptoms before initiating treatment.
A full report with the second trial results can be downloaded here:
For more information on the SD1 Screening device - Click Here. If you would like to support our work and join us on our journey by becoming a shareholder in Occuity, a funding round is currently open - Read More.