Diabetes

Semma Therapeutics has announced the completion of a highly oversubscribed $114 million Series B financing. Proceeds will be used to bring the company’s lead development program of encapsulated stem cell-derived islets, through proof-of-concept in patients while continuing exploration of other regenerative medicine therapeutics.

New Research from the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business is highlighting the role that mobile health applications can have on outcomes among patients with diabetes. NYU Stern professor Anindya Ghose and co-authors Beibei Li of Carnegie Mellon University and Citong Guo of the Harbin Institute of Technology found that over 15 months, patients who adopted a Chinese mobile health platform saw a more than 2000% reduction in glucose levels over time, on average.

Johnson & Johnson’s LifeScan brand, makers of OneTouch Verio Flex, plans to honors those across the country with diabetes by launching a new campaign. #SmallVictories will feature in-person surprises celebrating everyday lifestyle changes that have helped in moving forward with managing blood glucose. This new venture resulted from a new survey showing that while 83% of people living with Type 2 diabetes feel like they are working to make everyday lifestyles changes, more than a quarter cannot remember the last time they received any recognition for their efforts.

Atlanta-based Pursuant Health is ready to roll out new retinal screening capabilities into its self-service kiosks with the goal of preventing 95% of avoidable vision loss cases with early detection.

The Merck Foundation is undertaking an effort that it says will improve diabetes outcomes among underserved U.S. populations. The Kenilworth, N.J.-based foundation has committed $16 million in funding over five years for its Bridging the Gap: Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care initiative.

The program, according to the foundation, will bring high-quality medical care with services and resources from outside the health system to address such factors influence diabetes outcomes as healthy food access and spaces for physical activity.

In a Journal of Advanced Nursing study of 90 adults with type 2 diabetes published last week, female gender, elevated blood sugar levels, neuropathic pain, and fatigue were related to sleep disturbance, even after controlling for factors such as age, diabetes duration, depressive symptoms and distress.

The findings suggest that clinicians should pay extra attention to females when conducting sleep-related assessments. A comprehensive sleep evaluation should also include diabetes-related symptoms such as neuropathic pain and fatigue.

Ascensia Diabetes Care, based out of Basel, Switzerland, is showing its support for World Diabetes Day 2017 by publishing 30 portraits of inspiring women who are making significant contributions to advancing diabetes care. The theme of World Diabetes Day is Women and Diabetes, and through this initiative, Ascensia aims to raise global awareness of diabetes and help to amplify the messages of the International Diabetes Federation.

Five companies are close to winning $75,000 from the 2017 HITLAB World Cup of Voice-Activated Technology in Diabetes presented by Novo Nordisk. The Plainsboro, N.J.-based Novo Nordisk and innovation and teaching lab HITLAB launched the competition on Aug. 25, looking to find the best original ideas to help patients with Type 2 diabetes through improved healthcare access, delivery and outcomes, the companies said.