Project targets the skin irritation behind three-day site changes, with the potential to cut patch pump consumption by more than half and move wear schedules closer to continuous glucose monitor sensors.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — People with Type 1 diabetes who use insulin patch pumps must place the device to a different location on their body every three days. This is mainly due to skin irritation from preservatives necessary in insulin formulations. As part of a new Phase I grant from the National Institutes of Health, SFC Fluidics is creating a patent-pending chip that removes those preservatives from the insulin immediately before it is delivered to the patient. The goal of this project is to extend the time that SFC’s disposable insulin and glucagon delivery devices can be worn at one site from three to seven days.
Site changes and skin reactions rank among the most frequently cited reasons that people with Type 1 diabetes discontinue pump therapy or decline to start it. SFC’s Phenolic Depletion Chip, or PDC, aims to reduce that burden, addressing a persistent barrier to broader patch pump adoption.
The Phase I project will establish proof of concept for the PDC, confirming that preservatives can be removed at the point of delivery without compromising insulin flow, potency or sterility.
Doubling wear time changes the economics of pump therapy. A patient wearing a single device for seven days instead of three uses fewer than half as many pumps over a year, cutting consumable costs for patients and payers by more than half. Seven-day wear also narrows the gap with continuous glucose monitor sensor life, moving pump and sensor replacement closer to a common schedule and simplifying the routine for the many people who manage both devices, and reduces the economic barrier of integrating the sensor into the pump.
“Site rotation every three days is one of the most common reasons people abandon patch pump therapy or never start it,” said Anthony Cruz, CEO of SFC Fluidics. “If we can get to seven days, the value proposition changes for patients and for payers: fewer devices, fewer site changes, and a wear schedule much closer to the CGMs they are already using.”
The product development research described in this press release is being supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number R43DK146368. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
The phenolics depletion chip is an investigational technology under development. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is not available for sale. Statements regarding anticipated wear time, cost reduction, and patient benefit are forward-looking and depend on the outcome of ongoing research and regulatory review.
About SFC Fluidics, Inc.
SFC Fluidics, Inc. develops microfluidic drug delivery technologies with a mission to advance healthcare and improve quality of life. The company’s PANDA™ ACE patch pump platform, built on its ePump® delivery mechanism, received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in November 2020. SFC’s vision is to become a recognized global leader in drug delivery, with a focus on diabetes, where its product lines improve lifestyle and affordability. SFC Fluidics® is a VIC Tech portfolio company. To learn more visit, sfc-fluidics.com
About VIC Tech
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