Google announces diabetes sensors as first healthcare initiative
Google announced the formation of a new parent company, called Alphabet, as well as plans to increase its focus on healthcare-related initiatives starting with a partnership that will develop low-cost sensors to improve diabetes management.
The company's life sciences team, part of the Alphabet unit run by CEO Larry Page and President Sergey Brin, and DexCom will work together to build continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, incorporating Google's miniaturized electronics platform with the San Diego-based company's sensor technology.
Alphabet and Dexcom will focus on creating miniaturized, low-cost and disposable CGM body-worn components that can replace finger sticks and allow patients to use the tools to better control their diabetes with actionable information.
"We're committed to developing new technologies that will help move healthcare from reactive to proactive," Andrew Conrad, head of the life sciences team at Alphabet, said in a release.