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Company OverviewBeta-O2 Technologies Ltd., headquartered near Tel Aviv, Israel, is a biomedical company developing a proprietary implantable bioartificial pancreas, the βO2. The device is designed as a treatment for Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus - Type I diabetes, and a subgroup of Type II diabetes. These two conditions combined affect approximately 30 million people worldwide.Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by the inability of the body to properly metabolize glucose, the ultimate biological fuel necessary for proper cell function. The transport of glucose into cells requires insulin, a hormone manufactured by beta cells contained in the Islets of Langerhans (Islets) in the pancreas. Type I diabetes (Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: IDDM), is an autoimmune disease, whereby the immune system attacks and destroys the body’s own beta cells. The beta cells, which are located inside the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, sense glucose and secrete insulin accordingly. Diabetes is the result of a complete inability of the Islets to produce insulin. Type II diabetes is characterized by either not having enough insulin required by the body or the inability of the cells to properly respond to insulin. This is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for about 90% of all diabetic cases. About 25% of Type II diabetics become insulin dependent when the disease is not properly treated or when large amounts of insulin are required. Diabetes is known to lead to a series of complications such as blindness, renal failure, amputations and even death. It is the sixth leading cause of fatality by disease in the U.S. Eleven percent of the health budget of the U.S. is devoted to diabetes care with more than $170 billion annually spent. The current treatment for Type I diabetics includes frequent blood glucose monitoring followed by multiple daily insulin injections administered either manually or by a pump. This process is unpleasant, cumbersome and more importantly suboptimal. The treatment for non-insulin dependent diabetic patients is typically a combination of diet and exercise, often augmented by oral medications. However, overtime, about 25% of Type II patients will need insulin, and consequently require treatment similar to that of Type I patients. Scientists have long tried to recreate the natural process of insulin production, envisioning Islet transplantation as a cure for diabetes. However, to date, researchers have been unable to overcome the complex challenges of continuous oxygenation and immune rejection of the transplanted organ. Beta-O2 believes it has circumvented these issues. The company has devised a novel technology which supports the natural production of insulin. The company is currently developing the ΒO2 system, which contains Islets of Langerhans that are perpetually oxygenated and nourished via Beta-O2’s proprietary technology. The cells are protected from the immune system by membranes covering the device. Beta-O2, is currently engaged in pre-clinical studies and plans to commence a Phase I clinical trial in the near future. |
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