Google has teamed up with Novartis to make its smart lenses a reality, providing constant measurements of a user's blood glucose levels.
It was back in January that Google unveiled a smart contact lens that could measure blood glucose levels. This means that it can be of great help of those with diabetes, allowing them to constantly measure their glucose levels throughout the day. Users would receive the results on their mobile phones, enabling them to monitor and manage their condition in an easier and more convenient manner.
The lens uses non-invasive sensors which would analyze tear fluid in the eye to provide the aforementioned measurements. While back in January this was just a promising prospect, Google's smart contact lens is now set to become reality thanks to a new partnership with Novartis.
"We are looking forward to working with Google to bring together their advanced technology and our intensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs," said Novartis CEO Joseph Jimenez. "This is a key step for us to go beyond the confines of traditional disease management, starting with the eye."
"Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people," added Google co-founder Sergey Brin. "We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true."
Novartis' eye care division, Alcon, has teamed up with a Google division to in-license this "smart lens" technology for "all ocular medical uses." This partnership with a Google team allows Alcon to develop and commercialize the "smart lens" technology.
Under the terms of the deal, the two companies will collaborate to develop a "smart lens" that would address ocular conditions. Through this partnership, Novartis wants to help diabetic people, as well as those with presbyopia sufferers who can no longer read without glasses.
"Alcon and Google have a deep and common passion for innovation," further said Jeff George, Division Head of Alcon. "By combining Alcon's leadership in eye care and expertise in contact lenses and intraocular lenses with Google's innovative 'smart lens' technology and groundbreaking speed in research, we aim to unlock a new frontier to jointly address the unmet medical needs of millions of eye care patients around the world."
The deal is still subject to regulatory approval and it would still take a good while before a "smart lens" actually hits commercial availability, but this ambitious project is nonetheless one step closer to reality.
