New Medical Device for the Treatment of Diabetes Type I and II and Obesity

Key Inventor

Dr Michael Cheung BSc. (Hons), MB ChB, MD, MRCP (UK), FRACP.

Summary of the opportunity

We have identified a method of lowering insulin using a minimally invasive Medical Device. This can be used as an adjunct to conventional therapy or used in the 'pre diabetic' phase to prolong the need for pharmaceutical treatment and aid in the overall clinical management of a patient.

The Problem / Target Market

Both Diabetes Type I and II and Obesity are growing problems in both the western and developing worlds. Two hundred and twenty million people worldwide have diabetes (according to projections from the World Health Organization (WHO).
By 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese, (WHO).

GlobalData estimated the type 2 diabetes market to be worth $21.9 billion in 2009. The market is forecast to reach $36.1 billion by 2017 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2010 and 2017. The global market for anti-obesity drugs which was valued at $1.4 billion in 2009- will grow 11.7 percent each year to reach $3.1 billion by 2016.

Technology, State of Development and Competitive Edge

We have demonstrated the methodology in a group of 18 healthy individuals after only one week of daily treatment using a combination of existing hospital based medical devices not specifically designed for lowering insulin. The participants were given a standard high fat high glucose meal and their biochemical response to the meal was measured before treatment commenced and after one week of treatment. There was an improvement in insulin levels and vascular function after one week of treatment.

Nature of the Deal

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has patented the technology and is seeking to develop a partnership with industry with the aim to secure a licensing partner to further develop this technology to its full potential.