LumiThera Inc., a commercial stage medical device company delivering photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment for ocular disorders and diseases, announced it has initiated further studies with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to establish the use of their Photobiomodulation platform in Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).

“Recent research in our labs in both preclinical and clinical areas have indicated potential in treating diabetic edema with PBM,” stated Janis Eells, Ph.D., Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Our work shows that early PBM benefits in reducing the detrimental effects of high glucose on retinal cells and early human data is now starting to show benefits in the clinical setting.”

DR is the leading cause of blindness in the world. The International Diabetes Foundation 2019 Fact Sheet estimated that globally 463 million people have diabetes now, and future estimates suggest that this number will increase to 578 million by the year 2030.

“We have been working with Dr. Eells and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on our dry AMD research and the work in DR and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is a logical extension of our PBM platform,” stated Clark E. Tedford, Ph.D., President and CEO of LumiThera, Inc. “The results from Dr. Eell’s lab point to the multiple cellular benefits of treating the disease early and PBM would be an alternative approach for treatment of early disease.”

LumiThera was granted a CE mark to commercialize the Valeda System in European Union for the treatment of ocular diseases including dry AMD. The company previously announced that the National Institutes of Health and division of the National Eye Institute have provided a $2.5M grant to support the LIGHTSITE II multi-center clinical trial to lead to U.S. approval for dry AMD. The Company is enrolling two multi-center trials, one in European Union and one in the US for dry AMD. The entry into DME provides a second major ocular disease platform for the Valeda system.

“We are excited to be involved in the development of Valeda for both non-neovascular (dry) AMD and DME. We are currently enrolling patients in the LIGHTSITE III study and believe that PBM could be an even bigger platform for DME,” remarked Quan Dong Nguyen, M.D., M.Sc. and Diana V. Do, M.D., Professors of Ophthalmology at the Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University. “DME is the leading cause of functional vision loss among working adults worldwide. Treatments with intravitreal injections of pharmacologic agents are effective but can be costly and invasive. PBM could provide a significant improvement to the current practices with its non-invasive approach.”

“I am continually impressed with the scientific foundation that LumiThera is building for PBM with collaborations in both preclinical and clinical research,” stated David Boyer, M.D., Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group. “The benefits for PBM on multiple critical cellular pathways involved in the disease etiology in preclinical work is now being evaluated in the clinical setting and could change the way we address chronic disease that leads to blindness.”

About LumiThera Inc.
LumiThera is a commercial-stage medical device company focused on treating people affected by ocular disorders and diseases including dry AMD, a leading cause of blindness in adults over 65 and DR, the leading cause of blindness in the world. The company is a leader in the use of PBM for treatment of acute and chronic ocular diseases and disorders. The company is developing the office-based Valeda Light Delivery System to be used by eye care specialists for medical treatment.

The Valeda Light Delivery System has been granted authorization to use the CE Mark by an EU Notified Body as required for commercial use in the European Economic Area only. Valeda is not approved for use by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA.

Abbott and Insulet Corporation , the global leader in tubeless insulin pump technology with its Omnipod® Insulin Management System (Omnipod System), announced they are partnering to integrate Abbott’s world-leading1 glucose sensing technology with Insulet’s next-generation tubeless system, the Omnipod Horizon™ Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) System (Omnipod Horizon System), to offer personalized automated insulin delivery and care for people living with diabetes.

Controlled through an app on a user’s personal smartphone device – a unique feature that will be offered with the Omnipod Horizon System – the integrated platform will consist of the trusted tubeless insulin delivery Pod and Abbott’s next-generation FreeStyle Libre sensor. Through a simple, intuitive design, glucose data from the sensor will be sent directly to the Pod that is embedded with an algorithm to automatically adjust insulin delivery – without the need for an additional device, connection or tubing. This integrated system will be designed to always remain in automated insulin delivery mode and can be controlled through an app on a user’s personal smartphone to manually take a dose of fast-acting insulin, or bolus, before meals for optimal performance. Additionally, the integrated platform is expected to be the first combined system with a fully disposable wearable sensor and pump.

Abbott is focused on creating future-forward health technologies that simplify how people living with diabetes manage their condition so they can live their best lives,” said Jared Watkin, senior vice president, Diabetes Care, Abbott. “As diabetes care becomes more interoperable, we’re developing more connected approaches to improve care. Through this partnership, Abbott and Insulet will offer an integrated digital health platform that is simple and accurate and will provide a best-in-class user experience.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Abbott by building on our consumer-centric Omnipod Horizon platform, which offers unparalleled simplicity, accuracy, and now sensor choice for consumers,” said Shacey Petrovic, President and Chief Executive Officer, Insulet. “As interoperability becomes increasingly important, our approach to automated insulin delivery will change the future of blood glucose management by offering consumers greater choice in algorithms, sensors and overall experience. This collaboration furthers our shared vision to help our consumers put diabetes in the background, so they have more freedom to enjoy life.”

This connected care solution will integrate both the Omnipod Horizon System and FreeStyle Libre sensor data, offering a seamless option that will fit easily into the lives of people with diabetes. With both Insulet’s and Abbott’s ability to sell its products through the pharmacy, users of the integrated platform will benefit from ease of obtaining supplies with an innovative pay-as-you-go model.

ABBOTT’S AND INSULET’S NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES
The FreeStyle Libre 2 system, Abbott’s next-generation continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, is currently approved in Europe2 and offers enhanced accuracy and optional glucose alarms at no additional cost from the first-generation FreeStyle Libre system. The FreeStyle Libre 2 system can continuously stream up-to-the-minute glucose data to digitally connected devices. When used as a standalone system, users scan the sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for 14 days to see real-time glucose levels every minute, historical trends and patterns, and arrows showing where glucose levels are going without having to fingerstick.

Expanding upon the current Omnipod DASH Insulin Management System, Insulet has developed and is currently in clinical trials for its Omnipod Horizon™ AID System. The intended design of the technology is to leverage glucose values from a CGM to predict future glucose values and adjust insulin delivery. The Horizon System will leverage the technology of the DASH Insulin Management System on a user’s personal smartphone.

About the Omnipod DASH System:
Insulet’s Omnipod DASH System was designed to serve as the foundation for the company’s future innovation. Designed with patient discretion and convenience in mind, the Omnipod DASH is a continuous insulin delivery system consisting of two simple components: a tubeless, waterproof*, Bluetooth® wireless technology Pod (pump) that holds up to 200 units of U-100 insulin** and a modern, color touch-screen Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) that controls the Pod. The Omnipod DASH System has a suite of optional mobile apps for users, caregivers and healthcare practitioners to help simplify diabetes management. The Omnipod DASH System, which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance in June 2018, is the only DTSec and ISO 27001 certified insulin pump for cyber and information security and safety.

About Insulet Corporation:
Insulet Corporation  , headquartered in Massachusetts, is an innovative medical device company dedicated to making the lives of people with diabetes and other conditions easier through the use of its Omnipod product platform. The Omnipod Insulin Management System provides a unique alternative to traditional insulin delivery methods. With its simple, wearable design, the disposable Pod provides up to three days of non-stop insulin delivery, without the need to see or handle a needle. Insulet also leverages the unique design of its Pod, by tailoring its Omnipod technology platform for the delivery of non-insulin subcutaneous drugs across other therapeutic areas.

© 2020 Insulet Corporation. Omnipod, DASH and Horizon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Insulet Corporation. All rights reserved.

About the FreeStyle Libre System:
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre technology, the #1 sensor-based glucose monitoring system used worldwide,1 reads glucose levels through a sensor that can be worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days, eliminating the need for fingersticks.3 The FreeStyle Libre portfolio has changed the lives of more than two million people across 46 countries5 and has secured partial or full reimbursement in 36 countries, including France, Ireland, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. For the U.S.

About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 107,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Flowonix introduced the Prometra II 40mL pump to the US market in November 2019, providing patients and clinicians a choice between 20 mL and 40 mL capacities when choosing an intrathecal pump delivery device. The new indication expands significantly the market for the Prometra device by enabling its use in the treatment of spasticity. Flowonix will begin marketing the device with the new indication immediately.

“Over the last several years, physicians utilizing implantable pumps to deliver long-term baclofen infusions have only had one device option,” said Charles Argoff, M.D., a neurologist at Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York. “The availability of a totally new pump to assist in the management of severe spasticity allows for a meaningful new option for those patients who suffer from this condition.”

Unlike the existing motor-driven pump, the Prometra II Pump utilizes a pressure-driven, valve-gated delivery mechanism to deliver boluses of medication into the intrathecal space. This innovative delivery mechanism provides broad spinal cord coverage rapidly and enables novel programming modes of intermittent flow followed by periods of no flow, unique to the Prometra device. The Prometra device also features a 10+ year battery life, which can significantly reduce the number of future surgical procedures patients will need to replace expiring pumps.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimates that spasticity affects more than 12 million people worldwide, with common conditions such as cerebral palsy (CP), multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke comprising the majority of that population. While intrathecal baclofen is reserved for the most severe cases of spasticity, the number of patients who could benefit from the therapy is significant.

“This is a major milestone for Flowonix,” said Larry Heaton, President and CEO, Flowonix Medical, Inc. “We believe the community of clinicians treating severe spasticity with intrathecal baclofen will find the Prometra System to be a welcome addition to their armamentarium for treating their patients, and we will be working with leading physicians in the field to establish Prometra as the standard of care in intrathecal baclofen therapy.”

The Prometra Pump was approved for use in the United States in 2012 with an indication for use to deliver INFUMORPH. To date, the Prometra System has been implanted in more than 8,000 patients worldwide, including use of the device to treat patients with severe spasticity outside the United States since its approval in the United Kingdom and European Union in 2011.

About the Prometra® II Programmable Infusion System

The Prometra Programmable Infusion Pump System is indicated for intrathecal infusion of drug therapy, including: Infumorph® (preservative free morphine sulfate sterile solution), preservative-free sterile 0.9% saline solution (Sodium Chloride Injection, USP), and baclofen (baclofen injection, intrathecal, 500-2000 mcg/mL).

About Flowonix

Flowonix Medical Inc. (www.flowonix.com), headquartered in Mt. Olive, New Jersey, is working with healthcare professionals to help improve patients’ lives through targeted drug delivery innovation and therapy advancements. Founded in 2005, Flowonix is working closely with physicians and patients to enhance the capabilities of implantable drug delivery systems. Our goal is to become the leading implantable drug delivery company in the world.

Oman oil and gas exploration and production company, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has reportedly signed a contract with the Oman Engineering Procurement & Construction (OmEPC) to boost engineering in the country.

According to the Sultanate’s state-run news agency, Oman News Agency, the contract outlines a joint partnership between the four Omani SMEs that form OmPEC; Value Engineering Centre (VEC), Hamad Engineering Services (HES), Precision Engineering Consultancy (PEC) and Rock International.

The contract for Phase 1, which is valued at $25.9m (RO10m), was signed at PDO’s Knowledge World centre in Muscat by the company’s managing director, Raoul Restucci and chairman of OmEPC, Mohammed Al Said, representing the four-company partnership.

The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract is structured in three phases.

Phase 1 of the contract spans over three years and covers engineering services. Upon successful delivery, it will then be expanded to cover both engineering and procurement for a further three years; construction management will be added at the end of the sixth year.

The latest development in the oil and gas industry’s In-Country Value (ICV) strategy, the contract is indicative of PDO’s support of Oman’s ICV initiative.

In addition, it is also indicative of PDO’s support of efforts in job creation and training as well as providing commercial and investment opportunities for local businesses, the report stated.

The Sultanate’s ICV blueprint strategy was launched in December 2013.

PDO defines ICV as ‘the total spend retained in country that benefits business development, contributes to human capability development and stimulates productivity in Oman’s economy.’

Commenting on the contract, Restucci said: “This is an important EPC contract for PDO as it will provide services for our business in key areas, utilising a skilled Omani workforce and providing opportunities for emerging local businesses in supporting their development.”

“It is a further example of our long-term contribution and commitment to ICV in the Sultanate, creating jobs for Omani people by localising the supply chain,” he added.

Speaking about the joint partnership, Al Said, said: “OmEPC is a result of continuous ICV efforts by PDO to create meaningful employment for Omanis. With this contract, PDO has granted OmEPC an opening not only for employment of Omanis, but also development and growth of local EPC capabilities and capacity beyond the boundaries of PDO’s operations.”

The organizers of MedForce the Sales and Marketing Strategy Conference for MedTech Commercial Leaders announced the preliminary agenda and speakers for 2020.

The 2020 agenda encapsulates the current issues and future challenges that are front of mind for pharma companies, key topics include:

• Transform your commercial models
• Drive customer-centricity
• Increase salesforce effectiveness
• Adopt digital marketing
• Create value added services

Be inspired and learn from 50+ Commercial Excellence, Sales and Marketing leaders sharing practical insights on how to drive performance, boost market growth and achieve greater ROI. Some of the speakers that have confirmed to attend the 2020 edition of the event are:

Rodamni Peppa, VP Business Strategy and Commercial Excellence, Boston Scientific

• Robert van Geffen, Global Head of B2B Digital & Activation, Philips Healthcare
• Moritz Fischer, VP Marketing Hospital, Fresenius Medical Care
• Christian Popp, Director of Training and Development, MITG, EMEA, Medtronic
• Andrea Miotto, Senior Director, Market Access, Value & Economics, Intuitive
• Dirk Abeel, Head of Global Sales, Reckitt Benckiser
• William Chambers, Global Head of Transformation, Medtronic

Network with over 200+ commercial excellence, marketing and sales leaders from the world’s leading MedTech companies to make new contacts and develop lasting relationships.

“A serious benchmark for other events- with burning Marketing and Sales topics embedded in a productive format that encourages peer-to-peer exchange” – Moritz Fischer, Director of International Marketing EMEA, Fresenius Medical Care

“A highly interactive congress to discuss our common marketing and commercial challenges with a diverse group of companies- from established to new and those with a therapeutic or diagnostic focus” – Christian Popp, Training and Development Director EMEA, Medtronic

To view the full agenda or to learn more about the event at MedForce, please visit the following link: https://bit.ly/312iCEU

For the latest news, be sure to follow MedForce on LinkedIn @MedForce Europe #MedForce20

On 12, 13 and 14 May facility and hospitality managers can once again take part in the Facility Inspiration Event at the Interclean Amsterdam international exhibition. The Facility Inspiration Event is being organised by Interclean and the facilities consultancy organisation, Atir.

Every day the programme will start with a networking lunch. This will be followed by a seminar programme with a keynote speaker and various sessions. As Marieke Weerts, managing partner at Atir, explains, “We have put together a programme for each day which links up with developments in a segment of the facilities sector. Our aim is to inspire facility and hospitality managers as to how they can respond even more effectively to future needs.”

Three days of inspiration per segment

The three days are devoted consecutively to Warehouse & Logistics (helping to optimise the supply chain), Leisure, Retail & Petrol (helping to optimise the customer experience in high traffic environments) and Real Estate & Corporate (helping to create the most ideal work and living environment). Keynote speakers have been arranged for each day who will outline the developments in the segment. For example, trend watcher and futurist Richard van Hooijdonk is scheduled to speak on Tuesday 12 May. He will give visitors an insight into the future of logistics and supply chain management by explaining, for example, how algorithms can help create a fully automatic supply chain and what facility management will look like in the world of automatic transport flows.

‘Perception of clean’ and neuromarketing

Every day, Josefien ten Have, who is a consumer psychologist at Consumatics, will be introducing visitors to the principles of neuromarketing. The focus will be on the influence of people’s subconscious to the ‘perception of clean’. During these sessions visitors will gain an insight into the factors which subconsciously contribute to the perception of clean surroundings and the cleaning behaviour of employees. She will provide specific, usable examples for each segment.

Circular world

In cooperation with the ZeroWaste Foundation, which is the driver for circular business operations, a tour is being organised during the Facility Inspiration Event to enable people to find out more about the various start-ups and scale-ups. Participants will be shown concrete examples of circular innovations which are intended specifically for facility management. During the tour visitors will be introduced to, for example, Flynther, a company that makes water-resistant packaging materials, such as waste boxes for hazardous waste produced in the healthcare sector. In addition, The Greenmachine, will present innovations which can be used to reduce waste, for example a dewatering machine which enables savings in terms of (work) space, time and waste costs.

Have we aroused your interest?

The Interclean Amsterdam international exhibition is taking place over four days from 10.00 to 17.30. Visitors can take part in the Facility Inspiration Event free of charge and without having to register in advance. The programme for the exhibition and the Facility Inspiration Event can be found on the website.

About Interclean

Established in Amsterdam in 1967, the world-leading Interclean events are organised by RAI Amsterdam. The Interclean brand represents products and solutions that tackle a wide range of challenges within the professional cleaning industry. Interclean Amsterdam 2020 will be the world’s largest professional cleaning and hygiene event, set to feature more than 900 exhibitors and attract around 35,000 visitors from 12-15 May 2020. For more information: www.intercleanshow.com

About RAI Amsterdam

Personal meetings continue to be a powerful form of communication, and exhibitions are the ideal medium for connecting worlds, people and markets. With a portfolio of top brands, RAI Amsterdam creates inspiring events that blend context, content and communities. The focus on quality and target group has made RAI Amsterdam the market leader in a significant number of sectors. Wherever in the world, an event may take place, RAI Amsterdam’s focus is on generating business for exhibitors, visitors, sponsors and partners. For more information please visit www.rai.nl

On January 7, 2020 consortium of Sages Sp. Z o.o. (Ltd.) and Warsaw University of Technology signed an agreement with Wroclaw Medical University (project leader) for the development of an open information platform called the Polish Medical Platform (PPM).

The project is being implemented with funds obtained under the Digital Poland Operational Programme (POPC.02.03.01-00-0008 / 17-00). Its purpose is to implement software which supports knowledge management and broad research potential, as well as, to provide data in the field of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, occupational health and safety, ergonomics, and health protection.

The platform will gather in one place, previously scattered information about: medical scientific publications, ongoing research, obtained patents, research equipment and profiles of scientists from the institutions implementing the project, and, in the future, from all institutions interested in cooperation. The portal’s key function will be the open access to publications and research data, which promotes broad access to knowledge, contributes to better promotion of achievements and seeking of partners for further cooperation, along with faster commercialization of research results. That what the Research Information Management (RIM) system offers: acquisition and aggregation, curation, and utilization of all metadata about research activities.

The project is implemented by eight institutions, including seven universities and one institute:

• Wroclaw Medical University – project leader,
• Medical University of Bialystok,
• Medical University of Gda?sk,
• Medical University of Silesia (Katowice),
• Medical University of Lublin,
• Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin,
• Medical University of Warsaw,
• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz.

The signed contract provides for the implementation of OMEGA-PSIR software, developed at the Institute of Computer Science, Warsaw University of Technology. So far, the software has been used in 20 universities and research institutes in Poland. The uniqueness of the currently implemented project lies in the simultaneous launch of the software in eight independent locations and the creation of a common platform, which will enable the integration of other research institutions with a similar research profile. This type of installation is the only such project in the world.

OMEGA-PSIR software is a fully functional RIM software combining the functions of CRIS systems (Current Research Information System – used in knowledge management), RPS (Research Profiling System – offers profiling of specialization of scientists and research institutions) and IR (Institutional Repositories – archiving of broadly defined scientific achievements of individuals and institutions).

Sages Sp. z o. o. (Ltd.) and the Institute of Computer Science, Warsaw University of Technology, have agreed on joint participation in the project, just like in several previous projects involving the implementation of OMEGA-PSIR.