Industry News and Innovations

Groups Seek Improved Care Populations With Diabetes Using Technology
Microsoft Corp. (Redmond WA), in collaboration with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, the city of Miami, and Resolute Solutions Corp. (Bellevue, WA), announced a joint study in Miami's Overtown neighborhood aimed at changing the way primary care is delivered and how patients interact with their physicians using collaborative technologies.

According to a news release from Microsoft, the initial focus of the study will be diabetes management. Overtown is a predominantly African American neighborhood in the city of Miami.

"We are always looking to new technologies to increase the reach of services to our constituents as well as improve their health outcomes, especially for our neediest residents. The Overtown Health Project is another step forward for Elevate Miami, our public/private partnership to offer affordable technology packages that ensure residents and businesses are digitally enabled," said Manny Diaz, mayor, city of Miami.

A key facet of the Overtown Health Project is the creation of a feedback loop that allows patients to stay in touch with their primary care physicians. Each interaction between doctor and patient will be recorded to populate a database of compliance measures that, in turn, will be used to promote greater awareness and increased patient responsibility for chronic condition management.

"It is our hope that this pilot will be able to fundamentally change the way that family practice is implemented—moving from a low-tech, high-touch model to a high-tech, high-touch model," said Robert Schwartz, MD, Professor and Chairman of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Miller School of Medicine.

The study will use several integrated Microsoft technologies, including Office SharePoint Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, HealthVault and Office Communications Server, coupled with Resolution Solutions' technology development and e-learning services, and personal computers and bandwidth donated by the city of Miami, to maximize quality outcomes for patients and providers.

Diamyd Phase 3 Study Approved for Younger Patients
Diamyd Medical reported that the company has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to include children with type 1 diabetes from 10 years of age in the company's phase 3 study with the company's glutamate decarboxylase-based vaccine, Diamyd.

Diamyd Medical is conducting two parallel phase 3 studies, one in Europe and one in the United States, comprising a total of 640 patients. The objective of the studies is to evaluate the ability of the vaccine to halt or delay the autoimmune attack on the body's insulin-producing cells, thereby preserving the body's own ability to produce insulin in children and adolescents with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.

The European study, which is being conducted in nine countries, is approved for patients between 10 and 20 years of age, whereas the US study so far has been approved only for patients 16 to 20 years, an age group with few recent-onset type 1 diabetes patients. The company is, with the new approval, allowed to begin enrollment of children from 10 years of age in the US phase 3 study.

For more information, visit www.diamyd.com.

Can-Am Care's Innovative Clickfine Pen Needles Available
Can-Am Care (Atlanta), a leader in brand and store brand diabetes care products, announced that it has expanded the national distribution of Clickfine, its innovative, patented line of click-on pen needles.

According to a news release from the company, Clickfine pen needles are now available at national retail chains and drugstores, including Publix, the Kroger family of pharmacies, Discount Drug Mart, and Food City. They are also sold at Wal-Mart Pharmacies and through the Good Neighbor Pharmacy network of more than 2,700 independent retail pharmacies. Can-Am Care is the only marketer of click-on pen needles in the United States.

For more information, visit myClickfine.com.