South Korea: On Thursday, 25th May 2023, Medtronic Plc, a global leader of healthcare technology announced that it is acquiring EOFlow Co. Ltd.  EOFlow Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of EOPatch, a tubeless, wearable, and fully disposable insulin delivery medical device. The EOFlow together with Medtronic’s meal detection technology algorithm and next-generation continuous glucose monitor (CGM) will fulfill the needs of patients suffering from diabetes. The EOPatch device is equipped with microfluidic technology, designed to deliver insulin with high accuracy and reliability by minimizing the risk of insulin blockage. This medical device is authorized for marketing in Europe, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates that allows the users to control and monitor the patch from their smartphone through an application.

With this acquisition Medtronic’s will integrate the EOPatch device with its next-generation sensor and clinically proven Meal Detection Technology algorithm offered in its MiniMed 780G system. Medtronic customers will have access to a wide range of solutions across smart multiple daily injections (MDI), tethered insulin pumps, and wearable insulin patch technologies with the development and regulatory approval of the next-generation EOPatch device. These solutions will leverage clinically advanced and proven algorithms and seamlessly integrate to a single Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) platform.

According to the EVP & president of Medtronic Diabetes, " Our goal is to simplify diabetes management and deliver the well-established benefits of automated insulin delivery to our customers in the ways they want and need. We're excited to introduce a differentiated wearable patch option to provide more patient choice and drive further innovation for those who want to use technology to make living with diabetes easier. We look forward to expanding our offerings to participate in the patch pump market and enabling those customers access to our seamless ecosystem of support."

According to the Founder & CEO of EOFlow Co Ltd, " We're thrilled to accelerate our next phase of growth with a partner like Medtronic who shares our goal of simplifying diabetes management to make life easier for the customers we serve. Together, we'll work to advance innovation in wearable insulin patch technology to expand our reach to more individuals around the world living with diabetes. With a global footprint in over 100 countries, ability to scale up manufacturing quickly, and advanced software and sensor capabilities, Medtronic is the ideal strategic partner for EOFlow".

According to TechSci Research, the Medtronic Plc acquisition of EOFLOW Co. Ltd. will create a competitive environment in the medical device market. The EOPatch device developed with microfluidic technology designed to deliver insulin with high accuracy and reliability while minimizing the risk of insulin occlusion. The Meal detection technology with EOPatch enhances the patient experience by remotely monitoring and regulating body glucose levels.  EOPatch device expands the diabetes management options in patients by providing real time blood glucose levels and by offering self-reliance capability. These digital devices often offer data analysis, trend tracking, and personalized insights, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their diabetes care. Additionally, the remote monitoring has gained attraction, enabling healthcare providers to remotely review patients' glucose data, adjust treatment plans, and provide timely guidance, thus improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.

However, with this development and regulatory authorization of the next-generation EOPatch device, Medtronic customers will have access to a broad range of solutions across smart multiple daily injections (MDI), tethered insulin pumps, and wearable insulin patch technologies leveraging clinically advanced and proven algorithms and seamlessly integrated to a single digital platform for diabetes management.