Artificial Pancreas Project Press Release

General
21

Sarah, I am angry at all the corporate manipulation that goes on in this country.

I actually DO put a lot of energy into raising money and awareness.  I just choose not to do it with JDRF.  Ever since they couldn't give me a good answer as to why there weren't funding Dr Faustman's research, I have zero intention of giving another dollar to JDRF. 

As for me being very angry about my child's T1...um, wouldn't any parent? Still, not the point of this question as to wth JDRF is doing.  Nice try to change the subject.

Still waiting for someone to put some of these concerns to rest about the conflict of interest involved in this "join venture".   Also waiting for the JDRF to realize how many type 1's and their parents they are alienating.

22

[quote user="WestinsMom"]

Sarah, I am angry at all the corporate manipulation that goes on in this country.

I actually DO put a lot of energy into raising money and awareness.  I just choose not to do it with JDRF.  Ever since they couldn't give me a good answer as to why there weren't funding Dr Faustman's research, I have zero intention of giving another dollar to JDRF. 

As for me being very angry about my child's T1...um, wouldn't any parent? Still, not the point of this question as to wth JDRF is doing.  Nice try to change the subject.

Still waiting for someone to put some of these concerns to rest about the conflict of interest involved in this "join venture".   Also waiting for the JDRF to realize how many type 1's and their parents they are alienating.

[/quote]

Wow, I was just trying to help you step back rather than getting yourself and others overly worked up about a press release in this forum. Never mind.

 

23

People love conspiracy theories, and sometimes they are right.  While part of me does doubt, a part of me is also so grateful for where research has brought us.  If I had been born in another generation or country of less prosperity, I would have been dead at age 6.  I'm grateful for medicine, I'm grateful for what I have, and glad that what research has produced so far has allowed me to live this long.

24

I am personally excited, and can't wait to see what happens with this in the future!

25

I never said I wasn't excited about the AP.. if it ever develops it'll be a HUGE step in diabetes care.

you don't find a problem with 3, yes THREE people on JDRF's board have ties to J&J (Johnson and Johnson).. the ONE company that JDRF has decided to do the AP project with.. At first I thought the only connection was Woody Johnson, he was the CEO of JDRF, he is the CEO of Johnson and Johnson AND he is currently the Chairman of the board for JDRF international.Then There is Leo Mullin who is currenlty the Chairman of the board for JDRF and Karin Hehenberger, M.D., Ph.D.Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances of JDRF also has ties to J&J.. Something isn't right here. JDRF is a NON PROFIT organization, one started by parents, just like us. Yet, there are corprate business men and woman running the organization. And it just happens to be the ONE company that they've decided to partner with. J&J also owns Lifescan, the makers of one touch strips and meters.. the ones that the Animas ping uses. 

26

Are you talking to me? I never said you, or anyone else wasn't excited. I was just saying I was excited about the AP project.

I was responding to the OP. I really could care less about the rest of this thread.

27

nope, I wasn't talking to you specifically. I was just saying that I'm not unhappy about any advancements.. just unhappy about JDRF's stance and seemly very wrong connections with J&J.. JDRF's goal is research and a cure. The AP is NOT a cure...its another big, expensive bandaid, that J&J will make HUGE profits off of people like you and me.. hard earned donations shouldn't be going to J&J, but promising scientists that are RESEARCHING a for a CURE.

again, not specifically talking to you.. just added that last piece in.

28

Everyone has some pretty strong feelings about JDRF putting money to help fund the AP...But have any of you done the research to find out if a percentage of the profit will be going back to JDRF??? I'm not saying that to be rude, I'm saying it as an idea and something I've thought about. Alot of companies give a profit back to the "investors" and this could very well be the case in this situation as well. 

I would LOVE to see a cure just as much as everyone else, but in the mean time...I'll take an advancement to help me feel better, have better control, not have so many high and low blood sugars...I'm sure anyone who is actually at T1 can agree to that?

29

Chelsea, I have thought about that.. but JDRF is a NON-PROFIT organization. They would loose their tax exempt status if they were making profits. Although someone did say they have a for Profit branch.  I actually don't have a problem with JDRF gaining money on this project, if it gives more money to research, then that is a huge plus BUT why Animas, why a J&J company that has OBVIOUS connection and stands to make a HUGE profit. If it were any other company, or JDRF gave money to ALL the companys to produce the AP, I wouldn't see a problem with it. JDRF shouldn't be partnering themselves with a for profit company, the ONE company that three board members have connections too, it just isn't right.

30

The reality is this represents a tiny investment for JDRF, mainly because the organization has played the role of corporate matchmaker, rather than funding everything by itself.  The JDRF has funded a lot of cure-related research that hasn't panned out, and if this investment yields substantial improvement to treatment, then the money is well-spent.  Also, re: the J&J partnership, the press release carefully stated that this is NOT an exclusive deal, meaning other companies also have access to commercialize this as well, but J&J was the first company to step up to the plate.

[quote user="WestinsMom"]

Is anyone else a bit disturbed that JDRF is funding AP rather than a cure?  This is a topic of much interest on other boards, yet a quick glance here did not show anything.  Not only that, but that J&J is so involved in the JDRF and now JDRF is helping to fund something that should be all on J&J.

[/quote]

 

31

[quote user="Chelsea"]

I would LOVE to see a cure just as much as everyone else, but in the mean time...I'll take an advancement to help me feel better, have better control, not have so many high and low blood sugars...I'm sure anyone who is actually at T1 can agree to that?

[/quote]

well put Chelsea.. Us T1's are little cash cows for these companies I mean come on i think everyone can agree that these companies are for the money ..ever thought about how many people would be out of jobs without D? I myself almost worked at JDRF's main office in NYC as a freakin web designer... BUT as far as JDRF focusing on this rather than a cure? are you serious? we wouldnt even been here if they didnt realize insulin is our lifeline.. should they have focused on the cure rather than what helped us to be able to live normal healthy lives? no i dont think they r gonna find a cure but I am with Chelsea andthing to make my life healthier, happier and easier I am Extremly thankful for.

32

we need to be thankful for all of the advancements that have occured.   I bet those who had D at the turn of the cuntury would have been beyond grateful for the tremendous efforts JDRF and other groups have put forth.

 

T1 is a very complicated disease I'll take all the advancements to help T1's have a better life.  JDRF and others are still putting forth lots of money and effort to find a cure.

 

K

33
So why is it that ANIMAS is geting the Funding for a artificial pancreas ok so its a pump and a CGM hooked u to u. WOW so why not more funding for a CURE for DIABETES. I think i speak for all type 1's i dont think we want to be hooked up to anything any more.We want to be out there doing so much more insted of doing all these things that we have to do.
by the way  Animas is geting a grant of 8 million dollers to build it. so as far as i am concerd am not with it i think that money should go to a CURE and a sum of that to supples and pump reserch but more to the recerch for a CURE.
34

I cannot wait... although I am a bit disappointed they are saying four years for a review, considering they previously said it would be commercially available in the next 2-3 years 

35

I believe this is a very positive step in the right direction. I don't want to sound negative or take anything away from this good news, however I believe that the goal should always be to find a cure.

36

My questions still remain. WHY Animas, when there is the obvious connection. THREE JDRF board members are also linked to Johnson and Johnson, who OWN ANIMAS. 8 million dollars goes a LONG way in paying for TRIALS TO LOOK FOR A CURE!

Advancements while we wait are good. But Animas/Johnson & Johnson is a thriving company, they HAVE the 8 million, so they can front their OWN projects, this is what Minimed and Omnipod have to do, they aren't each getting 8million from JDRF. Their are scientisits that are on the right track, but lack funding, why isn't JDRF funding these scientists? That is what JDRF started out to be. It was started by parents to look for a cure, to help fund the research to find a CURE. NOT to give big phrama companies HUGE amounts of money to fund more bandaids.

And the Articifical pancreas is more than 4 years off.. That is NOT going to be an easy job of getting it through the FDA. TO have something that doses insulin automatically, and shuts off automatically, there are a lot of concerns there.

37

I didn't read in the press release anything about the AP being labeled as a CURE, but instead is promoted as being a next step in treating diabetes.

I work in med device (heart valves) and have written a press release before. They are so 'dumbed-down' it can be ridiculous. That is because a press-release is not only meant to communicate to people with T1 or T2, but to all people, most of whom will know nothing about diabetes. So it is natural that we have questions about what this means, and it is good to keep pressing JDRF for more information, but I think you should be directly communicating to JDRF (like in a phone call or letter vs. just venting on a web forum).

I think the concerns of those pointing out the link between Animas and JDRF are valid and should be addressed, but it is possible (and I would hope) that all the pump/CGM companies were allowed to present to JDRF for such a partnership before Animas was selected. I'd also hope that it was considered that this could be a bit of PR problem, but that the Animas proposal is a better tech fit than the others provided, so in total JDRF felt it was the best solution. While JDRF has many 'corporate types' on its board, I think many of those are parents and that there still are parents and people with T1 that are involved in such decision making.

Yes, JDRF was founded to find a cure. I guess those folks that find this partnership a corruption of that original committment think that JDRF shouldn't spend any money on organizing support groups or sending newly dx'd kids a Rufus bear and backpack or funding this website? JDRF does a lot that supports folks with T1D and their families and doesn't directly support a cure. I for one am glad of it for the help that it has provided to my family since my son was dx'd in May 09.  I have no problem with people feeling however it is they feel about this announcement, but I will prefer to look at the good that can come of it rather than only blasting it for its downsides.

38

thank u u see were am going with is to.

39

Announced today..

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jdrf-and-bd-collaborate-to-improve-insulin-pump-delivery-82072647.html

JDRF and BD Collaborate to Improve Insulin Pump Delivery

R&D Program Targets Opportunities to Improve Glucose Control and Help People with Diabetes Lead Healthier Lives

NEW YORK and FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) announced today an innovative program aimed at improving the treatment of type 1 diabetes by developing novel insulin delivery products to enhance the use of insulin pumps.  

Through the program, JDRF will support BD's research and development of new products that deliver insulin from a pump to a patient in either an infusion set or patch-pump configuration.  Research indicates that there are significant opportunities to enhance pump therapy by improving convenience as well as minimizing pain, kinking, occlusions and site infections.  An additional goal of the program is improving the speed at which insulin works.  These enhancements are intended to improve how people with diabetes control their insulin therapy and have a positive impact on their overall level of glycemic control.

"Better control means better health outcomes for people with diabetes," said Alan Lewis, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of JDRF.  "Constantly improving the technological tools to dispense insulin will lead to greater adoption of these methods and healthier lives.  That's why we view this collaboration with BD as vital to our goal to provide a bridge to the cure for type 1 diabetes."  

The JDRF will invest $4.3 million in milestone-based financial support over the next few years for these projects.

"Providing reliable, convenient and cost-effective insulin delivery options is vital to helping people manage diabetes," said Linda Tharby, President, BD Medical - Diabetes Care.  "This collaboration with JDRF demonstrates BD's commitment to leveraging our expertise as a leader in insulin injection and acute care infusion to improve the patient experience for insulin pump users."

The evaluation of new delivery technologies, including BD microneedles, will be an important objective of this program.  Microneedles are tiny needles that deliver insulin just beneath the skin, increasing the speed of insulin uptake and may be virtually pain free.  Microdelivery technology development will focus on improved glucose control and ultimately the use of the technology as a critical element of closed-loop artificial pancreas systems.  One day these systems might sense blood glucose levels and automatically administer the proper dosage of insulin in response.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and kills off the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that enables people to convert food into energy.  It affects children, adolescents and adults.

To manage this disease, people with type 1 diabetes need to measure their blood sugar and pump or inject insulin throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range.  This daily routine continues for life because insulin does not cure diabetes.  

According to JDRF's estimates, approximately 400,000 of the 3 million people in the United States with type 1 diabetes use insulin pumps, which became commercially available in the 1980s.  Pumps offer flexibility and precision in controlling diabetes, which is a constant challenge for someone with diabetes.  In fact, research shows that most people with diabetes spend the majority of the day with blood sugar levels outside recommended ranges, which can lead to devastating and costly short- and long-term complications.

About JDRF's Artificial Pancreas Project

The JDRF/BD research program is among the first major non-exclusive industry initiatives of the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project.  JDRF last week announced that it is partnering with Animas Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson company, in a non-exclusive four-year program to develop a first-generation artificial pancreas system.  The eventual, ultimate goal of the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project is speeding the development of fully automated diabetes management systems.  

An artificial pancreas would measure blood sugar through a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which continuously reads the glucose levels through a hair-thin tube inserted just below the skin, typically on the stomach.  The CGM would beam those readings to an insulin pump.  In an advanced system, the pump would house a sophisticated computer program that would automatically calculate the necessary amount of insulin, based on the CGM's glucose readings, and deliver the right amount of insulin.  

The development of an artificial pancreas system is an essential step toward an ultimate cure for type 1 diabetes – a "bridge to a cure."

More information about the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project is available at www.jdrf.org/artificialpancreasproject.  http:///The site includes information for people with type 1 diabetes about research leading to the development of an artificial pancreas, as well as interactive tools, project timelines, chats with researchers, and access to information about clinical trials.

About JDRF

JDRF is a global leader in research leading to better treatments and cures for type 1 diabetes.  It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.  

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world.  BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public.  For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

SOURCE Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

RELATED LINKS
http://www.jdrf.org/
http://www.bd.com/
http://www.artificialpancreasproject.com/

This, taken from above

"Better control means better health outcomes for people with diabetes," said Alan Lewis, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of JDRF.  "Constantly improving the technological tools to dispense insulin will lead to greater adoption of these methods and healthier lives.  That's why we view this collaboration with BD as vital to our goal to provide a bridge to the cure for type 1 diabetes."  

How is this a 'bridge' to a cure? the AP is in no way shape or form a cure. Pure and simple. Yet, JDRF is claiming they will get there this way? you don't get to a cure through making big badder insulin pumps and cgms's, you get there through research with scientists.. they need to be heavily funding scientists that are looking for WHY and HOW the autoimmune process starts and HOW it can be STOPPED FOR GOOD.

40

Not sure why there was such a great deal of hostility in this thread.  It is a non-exclusive deal so that answers why.  Funding is being funneled to scientists so that research can continue towards the possibility of a cure in the future.  Judging by some of the reactions you would think that JDRF has ceased all diabetes research funding and devoted all monies to Animas.  That just is not the case.  Autoimmune diseases are not like viral diseases that can be studied through evolutionary steps in a petri dish.  I think some just need to relax and realize what is actually taking place.  An AP marks a huge step in the treatment of diabetes.  It is not even developed yet and people are harping like all research will stop once an AP is developed, tested, and marketed for use.  This is a slow process and this is the beginning of what could be huge leaps in management.