Biolinq Medical device maker Biolinq secured $100M in funding to accelerate development of its wearable, noninvasive, glucose-monitoring patch.
Need to know: The company’s needle-free patch uses tiny biosensors to measure interstitial fluid glucose levels just under the surface of the skin. The device also features an integrated display for real-time feedback.
According to Biolinq, the coin-sized patch aims to simplify diabetes management and transform future consumer health and wellness applications, with CEO Rich Yang adding:
“We now have an opportunity to expand the sensing category and deliver a new generation of sensing capabilities that can reach millions of lives in the diabetes community and beyond.”
The business of glucose monitoring. As we detailed in Issue No. 142, America is facing a metabolic health crisis.
- In the US, the total economic cost of obesity is $1.72T per year.
- 40% of US adults are obese, and 100M Americans have diabetes/prediabetes.
- Diabetes-related medical costs and productivity loss will exceed $600B by 2030.
Offing a potential solution, glucose monitoring is going mainstream.
- Levels ($12M), GraphWare ($20.5M), Supersapiens ($13.5M), January AI ($8.8M), and Veri ($4M) have recently secured funding.
- Dexcom and Garmin partnered to display blood glucose on devices.
- Apple has long been rumored to be adding glucose tracking to its smartwatch.
Looking ahead: Like all new technology, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) will encounter growing pains. But mirroring a broader trend in digital health—personalized, tailored approaches to care—diabetes tech may hold powerful health insights for a wider market.
