Corporate
News release
TopTOKYO, JAPAN - May 7, 2018 - Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543) today announced that it concluded an agreement with U.S.-based DexCom, Inc. ("Dexcom") to distribute the company's Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices exclusively in Japan, with sales to begin in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019 (FY2018). The goal is to gradually launch new products over the next few years, including next generation Dexcom CGM systems such as the G6 and additional platforms in Dexcom's pipeline. Henceforth, Terumo is also considering a collaboration to integrate CGM with an insulin pump platform.
Dexcom's system is the global market leader in real-time CGM. The products are equipped with a safety mechanism that automatically issues an alert when blood glucose is low or high.
Terumo has been selling medical devices for diabetes for over 30 years. The company recently achieved a significant milestone in this category, selling over one billion of the world's thinnest pen needle for insulin use, which Terumo launched in 2005. In the fiscal year 2018, Terumo plans to launch Japan's first tubing-free insulin patch pump.
Through this collaboration with Dexcom, Terumo will expand its product lineup and will continue to provide products and services that improve quality of life for people with diabetes.
About CGM
CGM stands for continuous glucose monitoring or continuous glucose monitors. It is a system that measures glucose concentration in the interstitial fluid of people with diabetes and shows the glucose reading, rate of change and trends. For patients and healthcare providers, knowing the blood glucose level and controlling it in a normal range is an important factor in diabetes treatment. Usually, blood glucose levels are controlled based on the numbers from blood tests or self-blood glucose monitoring. The use of CGM, which measures glucose continuously, makes it easy to determine blood glucose level trends and standards. This is expected not only to reduce hypoglycemia risk but also to be useful in determining treatment courses.
About Terumo
Terumo (TSE: 4543) is a global leader in medical technology and has been committed to “Contributing to Society through Healthcare” for 100 years. Based in Tokyo and operating globally, Terumo employs more than 30,000 associates worldwide to provide innovative medical solutions in more than 160 countries and regions. The company started as a Japanese thermometer manufacturer, and has been supporting healthcare ever since. Now, its extensive business portfolio ranges from vascular intervention and cardio-surgical solutions, blood transfusion and cell therapy technology, to medical products essential for daily clinical practice such as transfusion systems, diabetes care, and peritoneal dialysis treatments. Terumo will further strive to be of value to patients, medical professionals, and society at large.