Roche launches testing ground to accelerate type 2 diabetes innovations

Roche Diabetes Care has teamed up with a highly respected American university to create a testbed for innovative solutions for people with type 2 diabetes.

The company has partnered with Duke University in North Carolina so they can establish new pioneering products, services, and solutions for people with type 2 diabetes.

The University’s specialists will design, set up, and curate a well-characterised testing ground to enable the collection of feedback from people with type 2 diabetes as well as clinical stakeholders.

Digital health solutions

Socioeconomic and clinical demographic information of the cohort established on the testbed will provide foundational steps that enable real-world feedback and will help build the evidence needed for diabetes digital health solutions.

Jim Lefevere, International Business Leader for Non-Insulin Therapy Solutions at Roche Diabetes Care, said: “Over the next three years, the partnering will support our strategy to generate real-world evidence and bring more innovative solutions to the market for people with type 2 diabetes.

“Establishing a testbed with a well-known partner is a key next step in evaluating novel approaches and determining if users will adopt an innovative product. It will not only speed up evidence generation of how different personalised solutions for patients can drive better outcomes, but will also support innovation and piloting with external start-ups and digital health companies.”

Dr Satasuk Joy Bhosai, who leads digital health innovation efforts at Duke, said: “The field of digital health is in dire need of partnerships that foster evidence-based interventions. Too much tech is being built without enough independently validated evidence to back up the claims. In order to improve care, we must evaluate impact and I’m thrilled that this partnership gives attention to developing meaningful technologies with and for patient.”

This is the beginning of what we at Roche Diabetes Care hope will become a long-term partnership. The goal of the partnership is to enable a large pool of at least 500-1’000 participants who have consented to work with Roche and have already been recruited for research. This will help build the evidence needed for diabetes digital health solutions with the aim bring true relief to people living with type 2 diabetes.

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash