National Institutes of Health awards $225,000 to tech startup for blood-sugar control system

A Fayetteville medical technology startup was recently awarded $225,000 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health to support development of a dual-drug patch pump system for patients with diabetes.

SFC Fluidics’ ePump system provides automated insulin and glucose dosing to achieve fine-tuned glycemic control in patients with Type 1 diabetes, and it’s about the same size as insulin patch pumps on the market, according to a press release from the company.

The proposed system also features a flow-confirmation sensor that determines in real-time whether dose administration has occurred as expected. The sensor also alerts to any problems within the patch pump, including leaks, depleted drug supply and mechanical failure.

“SFC’s patch pump system combines safety, convenience and small size with excellent drug dosing accuracy and precision,” Greg Lamps, vice president of product realization, said in the press release. “We think the proposed system will be especially attractive to adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and will serve the broader diabetic community as well. What’s more, we see the dual hormone drug delivery system as a vital part of a future state-of-the-art artificial pancreas.”

After the first phase is complete, SFC Fluidics could be eligible for $1.5 million in funding from a Phase II grant from the NIH, according to the company.

SFC Fluidics, a VIC Technology Venture Development portfolio company, is located in the Arkansas Research and Technology Park.