We have been covering LifeScan since 2006, a company that’s been a strong player in the diabetes care space, offering blood glucose monitors and strips. LifeScan recently announced that its OneTouch VerioSync system is now Bluetooth-enabled so that it automatically shares its readings with paired smartphones for easy tracking of blood glucose readings. We had the opportunity to speak with David DeJonghe, LifeScan’s Worldwide Director of Marketing for their Digital Pipeline, about the new development.
Shiv Gaglani, Medgadget: What is new about LifeScan’s OneTouch VerioSync?
David DeJonghe: The OneTouch VerioSync System is actually comprised of two products rolled into one – the OneTouch VerioSync meter, a Bluetooth enabled blood glucose meter that communicates wirelessly to any device running iOS, using the OneTouch Reveal app. Together, the meter and app are designed to help individuals manage their diabetes right where they manage everything else in their lives — on their iPhone. The meter and app are also regulated and recently cleared under 510(k) by the FDA.
The OneTouch VerioSync Meter with companion OneTouch Reveal Mobile app provides patients with their key information at a glance. It has a color-coded bar graph that shows the percentage of results that are within, above and below their personalized target ranges, as well as 14-day averages of blood sugar readings. Patients can also access a color-coded electronic logbook that automatically displays test results over a two-week period, as well as other features that allow them to enter and view information about carbohydrates consumed, physical activity and medication. In addition, patients have access to a data sharing feature that allows key information to be sent via text or email to a healthcare professional, caregiver, or family member.
Medgadget: What types of patient and clinician feedback have you received on the new version?
DeJonghe: We just recently commercially launched the System, but so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive — beyond our expectations, really. Several years ago, most people thought this would be a niche play. However, with the growth of smartphones and the quantified-self movement going mainstream, we see this area continuing to grow. The good thing about what we can do in Digital Health is, by working in partnership with patients, clinicians and our regulatory partners, we can continue to evolve and grow based on their feedback.
Medgadget: Can you describe the main obstacles you faced in the development of the product?
DeJonghe: The consumer wireless and “app” space was virtually non-existent when we first started this project. We needed to navigate systems that had not yet been developed. Regulatory pathways had to be created and technologies had to mature. The good news is that at the end of all this, our customers are excited, and we’re honored to see patients and their caregivers choose our products.
Medgadget: There is a lot of excitement about the entire space of digital health. What is LifeScan’s approach to this changing landscape?
DeJonghe: As I’ve mentioned, there is so much excitement and innovation in this space, from the explosion of Digital Health in the media to forums like CES, where small start-ups are changing the face of healthcare on a daily basis. LifeScan, as well as Johnson & Johnson, are committed to meeting the needs of our customers in new and innovative ways. At our core, we are focused on caring for patients one at a time, so our approach mimics that. We are focused on making sure that each product has a purpose, it serves an intent and that it is properly vetted by our regulatory partners. In the end, we believe, with that strategy, we can make a difference in the lives of people with diabetes.
Medgadget: Can you describe your background in medical technology?
DeJonghe: For the past 15 years, I’ve been involved in one aspect or another in medicine. I started at the University of Arizona, working in clinical research, then joined Johnson & Johnson at DePuy Orthopaedics, where I worked in artificial joint replacements. For the past 8 years I’ve been with LifeScan in Diabetes Care. Each area is unique and has its own needs and challenges; however, they are all similar in one aspect. In medicine, we rely on data — data to see what’s happening, to understand and ultimately to make decisions. That data used to reside solely in the hands of doctors, but now it is becoming consumerized. I see digital health as a huge movement, particularly when it comes to diabetes.
Product page: OneTouch Verio Sync…
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