Market assessment for glucose-responsive microgels and microneedle patch technology

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Our laboratory has invented a glucose-responsive device that can sense glucose levels and release native glucagon in real time in response to hypoglycemia. The device is a composite transdermal microneedle patch comprising a microneedle array and embedded microgel particles. The microparticles are made from three types of monomers - one provides glucose-responsive volume change, one for stabilizing native glucagon, and one for facilitating glucagon encapsulation. After the microneedle patch is applied, the microneedles penetrate the skin, swell quickly in the body fluid, and enable the microgels in contact with the fluid and glucose. The microgels sense the glucose concentrations and shrink at low glucose levels thus squeezing the encapsulated glucagon out. As a result, the glucagon diffuses out of the needles to the blood circulation and to the liver thereby increasing blood glucose levels. The entire process automatically proceeds without external intervention of patients or care givers. The invented microgel system can maintain the native structure and bioactivity of glucagon at body temperature and under the conditions of making microneedle array. In a T1D rat model, our laboratory has demonstrated that the transdermal patch is able to prevent hypoglycemia induced by excess insulin administration for up to 3 hours. This technology is the topic of US Provisional Patent 62/757,677 filed on 11/08/2018 - "Device and Its Use for Preventing Hypoglycemia". To commercialize these proprietary technologies into a product, Innovations and Partnerships Office (IPO) has contracted a consultant company to perform market analysis to address various market aspects. At the completion of the project, the company will provide a report which will guide us next move of commercialization activities including application for an NSERC I2I Phase 1 grant to optimize the composition and design of the device and develop larger scale methods. These activities will strengthen our position of attracting strategic development partners and investors in future.