DENMARK – Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, has partnered with French-based device maker Biocorp to smarten up its line of disposable FlexTouch insulin pens with Mallya smart sensor device to be used by people with diabetes.

The new agreement with Novo Nordisk calls for the reusable Mallya to be distributed after a new version is proven to work with the company’s FlexTouch insulin pen.

Biocorp is poised to receive an upfront payment and milestone funding tied to the development of the new device. Nonetheless, the exact amounts were not disclosed, but the companies expect to begin production in 2022.

According to Biocorp, the sensor collects data with at least 99 percent accuracy and has a CE mark for distribution in Europe. It has a two-year battery life and can be recharged via a USB port.

FlexTouch, which carries the majority of Novo Nordisk’s insulins and will serve as a platform for all future insulins, has a unique, push-button dosing mechanism that necessitated a redesign of the current Mallya device, which previously received a CE mark for use in Europe.

The smart sensor from the French device maker connects to most disposable insulin injection pens to collect data on each injection.

In a statement, Biocorp CEO Éric Dessertenne described the project as a huge recognition of Mallya’s potential. Novo Nordisk provided almost half of the insulin used worldwide, having distributed more than 500 million insulin pens to 30 million users in 2020 alone.

Mallya is a Bluetooth-enabled smart add-on device for pen injectors that records the dose and time of each injection and sends it in real-time to a companion software in the user’s smartphone.

It assists people with diabetes in keeping a reliable dose log by utilizing technology to improve understanding and allow people to dose confidently.

Roche has already hired the French company to connect pens to its diabetes care platform to share patients’ treatment information with their healthcare providers.

Mallya automatically sends that information to the user’s smartphone app via Bluetooth. The dosage, insulin type, date, and time are then recorded and shared with healthcare providers.

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