Belgian spin-off Indigo challenges diabetes giants

Needle-free continuous glucose monitoring sensors (CGMS) for the 300.000 to 500.000 insulin-dependent diabetics in the US have just been launched for clinical use by diagnostics major Abbott. A spin-off from Ghent University (UGent) and imec has announced plans to do the same for the large diabetes consumer market. Belgian Indigo Diabetes NV’s patented implantable device relies on an photonic integrated circuit to measure IR spectra of glucose instead of on current needle sensors that constantly protrude the skin to measure the glucose level, and still require multiple finger-prick calibrations per day to maintain accuracy. 

The company just closed a €7m series A financing led by Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund II (The Netherlands) and PMV (Belgium). Further investors are Sensinnovat, Parana Management Corp, Qbic Arkiv Fund, Fidimec, SOFI, Manuardeo and Capricorn ICT Arkiv. “Worldwide, the number of diabetic patients has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 according to the World Health Organisation”, explained Harrold van Barlingen, Managing director of Thuja Capital. "With so many individuals reliant on frequent glucose measurements to help manage this disease, we eagerly support Indigo as it holds the potential to enable a paradigm shift in diabetes management with a game-changing technology.”

Indigo’s core market will be in the globally heterogenous population of insulin-dependent type II diabetics, who have developed insulin resistance and – in contrast to diabetics that receive oral medications – have to monitor their blood glucose not only two times a week but continuously. Furthermore, the more than 15 million persons with type I diabetes globally have to check their blood glucose levels continuously.

According to Indigo, the continuous need for frequent finger-pricks has hampered widespread adoption of CGMs. The company sees itself in a unique position to commercialise its needle-free technology in the consumer segment in which Abbott’s system is still under FDA review. However, the patent application gives no information on the shelf live of the device.

According to Indigo managing director Danaë Delbeke, who filed the patent on the core technology, “licensing a series of new technologies from globally recognised research institutions UGent and imec enabled Indigo to enter the market with the first needle-free and calibration-free glucose sensor,” adding that “Indigo’s product will alleviate the pressing need for accurate, low-cost diabetes management systems with an optimal user experience.”