Print FDA Approves New Type of Insulin Delivery Device

On December 8, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a novel tool for diabetes management known as the V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device.

The V-Go, which is intended to replace multiple daily insulin injections, adheres to the skin and is designed to be worn under the clothing for 24 hours before being replaced. It delivers basal and bolus insulin subcutaneously (under the skin) through a microneedle; the device can deliver preset basal rates of 20, 30, or 40 units of insulin in a 24-hour period (0.83 units/hour, 1.25 units/hour, or 1.67 units/hour, respectively) and on-demand bolus doses in 2-unit increments up to a total of 36 units in a 24-hour period. The V-Go, which is approved for use in adults with Type 2 diabetes, uses no electronic parts and weighs roughly 1 ounce when full.

Kristine Paterson, CEO of manufacturer Valeritas, Inc., says, “The V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device is the first fully disposable, nonelectronic basal-bolus device that is specifically designed with the Type 2 population in mind. We believe that the simple user features of the V-Go will allow more patients with diabetes to adhere to their insulin regimen, which ultimately may lead to better control.”

V-Go is scheduled to become commercially available in the United States in 2011. Pricing details have not yet been disclosed.

For more information about the V-Go Disposable Insulin Delivery Device, see the press release from Valeritas. And for a visual demonstration of how the device works, click here.

Comments:

You can pretty much guarantee no insurance company will cover this device.

Posted by: still too fat | Dec 15, 2010 02:01 PM

How wonderful for the population that requires 0.89, 1.25, and 1.67 units/hour. For the rest of us, I guess we could use it and eat continously to keep our sugars safe, or run a little high all day. I like the idea of a small, light weight, disposable insulin device that you can bolus from, rather than syringes and pens, but even that has limitations in this case. I'm sorry, I am not at all impressed.

Posted by: Angela Norton | Dec 15, 2010 04:18 PM

This might help the few people that actually use those paticular doses, but for the rest of us that use larger doses it isn't much help. There should be a way to utilize this device for those of us that need larger doses. Sorry, but I am still waiting for something that actually helps me.

Posted by: Savannah | Dec 15, 2010 05:03 PM

Again something new for type 2 diabetics. When I first read about this device I thought it could be used by all diabetics. Disappointed again. It would kill me. I realize type 2 is where the market is. Sorry I am having a bad day.

Posted by: Mary Thomson | Dec 16, 2010 06:03 PM

I can think of some people with Type 1 who do use 40 units of Lantus or Levemir a day that might benefit from this device. Some who really have not warmed up to the idea of an insulin pump yet. And I immediately thought some folks with Type 2 would need to wear 2 of them a day, and some even more than that. I wonder if insurance, Medicare or all the Medicaid HMOs would ever pay for that??? Time will tell.

Posted by: BK CDE | Dec 17, 2010 02:09 PM

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