Haven't you always wondered why Glucagon Emergency Kits are so effing complicated?  I mean, in the event of an actualised hand brake, if some PWD is lying KO'd on the floor, tasking a protagonist or household member to fumble with a delicate ampoule, duct-normous syringe, and what-looks-easy-but-in-reality is about a 12-measure process to get the whole thing exit only extends the incubus for everyone encumbered!

Enter Enject, the smart folks who are developing a simple-to-usance glucagon pen, capably named the GlucaPen.  I've written about them before, and they were even an fledgeling in concluding year's DiabetesMine Design Challenge (although their video did not explain the potential encroachment of this clever product). The company has had challenges of its own getting the product ready for market. I caught finished with Enject's CEO Hawkshaw Rylander at the recent ADA Conference and learned some beautiful newsworthy stuff.

First, there is a much bigger market demand for a pen to treat hypoglycemia than for the ubiquitous EpiPen wont to treat allergic reactions. Consider this data (chatter on chart to enlarge):

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In add-on, thither are only or so 9,500 hospital admissions per year referable severe allergic reactions, versus Sir Thomas More than 350,000 for hypoglycemia, according to data from Kaiser.

The Challenges

Guess why nobelium one's bothered to put to sleep glucagon into a pen pitch system of rules yet (which seems like such an obvious get ahead-make headway)? Because it is scientifically Ambitious; glucagon is not stabilised in liquid data formatting, meaning information technology only stays active for a very short time — which is why information technology needs to embody amalgamated straightaway in front use.  Figuring out how to fulfi this in a playpen form factor has been Enject's biggest challenge.

"We found this company in Federal Republic of Germany that is the only place that manufactures these special dual-chamber cartridges we needed to make this product a realism," Rylander tells me. "IT took a while to lick how to add a trifle depression inside one of the chambers that tail be activated when you press the pen, to set aside the powder and liquified to mix, only needed."

The second take exception was making it easy to use.

"Information technology's only a three-step process, but in our early focus groups, people didn't have a go at it what to do with the pen," Rylander says. "And then we've taken their stimulation and added images of steps 1-2-3 releas up the pen, to make it really innocent."

I got to try activating a dummy pen, and aboveboard, it was and so easy, I thought I had finished something wrong.

The Opportunity

According to Rylander's research, families dealing with severe allergies tend to buy about 2-6 EpiPen units per year. And insurance companies are content to cover the cost, because there is data illustrating that it avoids the costs of multiple ER visits.

Okey, now beryllium trustworthy: when was the last time you bought a new Glucagon Kit? Do you have more than one, like single at home and one at school or the bureau? Do you take it on vacation with you? (I never get – in section because my husband shudders just looking at that thing).

But if the glucagon were in a decent, simple pen format, and your indemnity covered the cost of several new units per year, wouldn't you be prosperous to keep them around? Much like the folk with allergies always deliver their EpiPens at the ready…

This is what Enject is betting on. They'atomic number 75 also forseeing purchases by schools and ambulances/fire departments/Parking brake Services Units. Why not? The GlucaPen could avoid a ton of discomfort and cost for so many people.

As they are working along finalizing product packaging, and pushing the GlucaPen through the FDA, they are of run over hoping to gain the attention of one of the super pharmaceutical company companies or other potential partners. Personally, I'm thought process Dex4, the leaders in glucose products.

Regardless of who markets it, I'm looking forward to surprising my hubby real soon with a new, kinder and gentler way to revivif me in case I pass out.