Researchers Successfully Create Computer-Simulated Model for Evaluating Artificial...

Researchers Successfully Create Computer-Simulated Model for Evaluating
Artificial Pancreas

- Key Step in Ongoing Research to Replicate Insulin-Producing Function of
Healthy Pancreas for Type 1 Diabetes Patients -

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- A key step toward the
successful development of an artificial pancreas for patients with diabetes
has been achieved, according to new research published in this month's issue
of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Sansum Diabetes
Research Institute and Stanford Medical Center have effectively created a
computer-simulated system for evaluating an investigational artificial
pancreas comprised of the OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System--including the
OmniPod insulin pump and Personal Diabetes Manager that controls it--and a
continuous glucose monitor, in this case either the FreeStyle Navigator(R) or
the DexCom STS7(R). The system also includes an algorithm that automates the
interaction between the pump and monitor, and facilitates the running of a
variety of tests and challenges to the software and component devices. The UC
Santa Barbara-developed software and algorithms are also being used with a
number of other pumps and monitors in developing additional systems.

"While we still have a ways to go, this new system brings us much closer to
making the artificial pancreas a reality for type 1 diabetes patients,"
explained lead author Eyal Dassau, PhD, Diabetes Team Research Manager at UC
Santa Barbara (UCSB). "This achievement is vital--we now have a way, prior to
patient trials, to fully verify and validate that an artificial pancreas can
efficiently operate in the variety of conditions reflective of a large group
of patients with this disease."

The research is part of the artificial pancreas project, which is funded by
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is being conducted by an
international group of diabetes research centers. The project's first goal is
to integrate an insulin pump and continuous blood glucose monitor to closely
replicate a healthy pancreas for patients with type 1 diabetes--patients whose
pancreases no longer produce insulin, which is used by the body to control
blood glucose levels. An artificial pancreas will allow for tighter and
automated control of blood glucose levels, which would significantly help to
avoid the long-term complications of the disease.

"This new system will really help streamline the preclinical trials; it will
provide data central to the regulatory review process," said investigator
Howard Zisser, MD, Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Technology at
the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. "We plan to begin
using it in the next several months."

UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a leading research institution. The two groups
involved in this study at UCSB are the Department of Chemical Engineering,
which is committed to excellence in teaching and research and in 2007 was
ranked ninth in the United States and second in the University of California
by U.S. News and World Report, and its Biomolecular Science and Engineering
Program, which offers a unique interdisciplinary approach to graduate training
and research spanning Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering and
Biomolecular Materials.

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is a non-profit research center devoted to
the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes through research and education.
In particular, it is known for its work on methods to detect and chart the
progress of diabetes and its expertise in new diabetes technology.

The OmniPod Insulin Management System is manufactured and sold by Insulet
Corporation (Nasdaq: PODD). The FreeStyle Navigator is a product of Abbott
Diabetes Care, and the DexCom STS7 is a product of DexCom, Inc.

Media Contacts:

Mark Sahl, Lazar Partners
(609) 992-5205
msahl@lazarpartners.com

Tony Rairden
College of Engineering, UCSB
(805) 893-4301
TRairden@Engineering.UCSB.edu

SOURCE UC Santa Barbara Engineering

Media, Mark Sahl, Lazar Partners, +1-609-992-5205, msahl@lazarpartners.com; or
Tony Rairden, College of Engineering, UCSB, +1-805-893-4301,
TRairden@Engineering.UCSB.edu