DTI
SMART INNOVATION
AWARD WINNER 2000

Company Background

Cybersensors was founded in 1996 to develop diagnostic products based on the unique combination of micro radio (RF) devices, along with physical, chemical and bio-chemical sensor technologies. The use of established, leading edge technology, bounded by in-house patents, has eliminated the need for extended development work, which greatly reduces technical and financial risk. In many cases the initial "proof of principle" work has been completed, and this step-wise process of investment has been followed as the most appropriate to leverage the long-term benefits to the early phase investors. Since 1996 Cybersensors has been working on the design of continuous sensors utilizing affinity/recognition polymers and have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge in this area. The use of recognition polymers and related macromolecular chemistry features extensively in a number of its latest product developments.

Cybersensors believes an exceptional market opportunity exists for an implantable continuous glucose sensor product within the personal diabetes management sector because:

• Diabetes is growing, affecting about 8% of the population worldwide
• It is a chronic disease with no cure
• Current methods to manage the disease do not satisfy either patients or clinicians
• Recent studies recommend stricter methods of blood glucose control, which implies continuous, real-time monitoring system approach
• The affinity recognition polymer technology developed for diabetes can be readily exported to other chronic disease

Cybersensors has conceived and patented, a dramatically new approach, which does not use conventional chemical sensors with their inherent deterioration problems. The principle feature of an indwelling biophysical sensor is the ability to provide continuous real-time information to the person with diabetes. This continuous data will therefore provide the ability to know trend information and provide alarms for both hyperglycaemic and hypoglycaemic events.

The management of blood glucose within the bounds established by the patient's clinician will enable the person with diabetes to reduce, or perhaps, eliminate future complications from the disease. Parents of diabetic children will be able to be alarmed at any time in the night if their child is approaching a hypoglycaemic event. The data points can be read out on a display using wireless telemetry.

The company has associations with several leading world authorities in the field of diabetes to ensure that it develops appropriate solutions to the issue of in vivo monitoring of blood glucose. Cybersensors plans to continue to keep abreast of the diabetic community to ensure the most beneficial and user friendly packaging and product designs are implemented. The cost of the indwelling sensor will compare very favourably with existing test strip and infrared technology and should be financially reimbursable by healthcare and medical insurers.

This dramatically new approach of a continuous glucose sensor, which does not use conventional chemical sensors with their inherent deterioration problems, is based on unique patented technology. The ultimate beneficiary of the glucose products and associated systems produced by Cybersensors will be people suffering from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

In addition, a variety of devices have been developed that can supply insulin to the body, some of which are implantable. If a reliable glucose monitor was available, this could be used to control such devices via a feedback loop, enabling an 'artificial pancreas'.

The management team has been working on this project since 1996 and brings a wealth of experience in research, development and marketing of new technology products. Their primary skills cover sensing technology, biochemistry, microelectronics and wireless communications, and strategic marketing and business management. Until recently, they all held senior positions in major companies in these areas.