Russia has begun developing its first domestically produced artificial pancreas. Researchers at Sechenov University’s Institute of Bionic Technologies and Engineering, together with the state-owned Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET), have started work on an artificial pancreas system for patients with Type 1 diabetes, the university’s press service told GxP News.
The device is a portable system that will automatically monitor blood glucose levels and adjust insulin doses without patient involvement, the researchers said. They stressed that no such system exists in Russia today that mimics the function of a healthy pancreas.
According to the scientists, the artificial pancreas consists of three key components: a continuous glucose monitor, a miniature insulin pump, and a computer algorithm.
The system operates on a closed-loop principle, they said. The algorithm analyzes data from the sensor and predicts blood sugar fluctuations, after which the insulin pump automatically adjusts the hormone dose.
Experts say the device will help users avoid sharp glucose spikes and hypoglycemia — a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels. It will also improve patients’ quality of life by automating insulin dosing, a process that previously had to be done manually.
“The key innovation is that the continuous glucose monitor in the device will be reusable,” said Dmitry Telyshev, director of Sechenov University’s Institute of Bionic Technologies and Engineering. Unlike existing alternatives, which typically last 14 to 16 days, the system will not need to be fully replaced. Only the adhesive patch and the implantable part of the sensor — which includes a thin needle — will be disposable.
This approach is expected to drastically reduce the cost of continuous glucose monitoring systems, Telyshev said. The sensor developed by Sechenov University and KRET will cost around 4,500 rubles, he added.
The first prototypes of the artificial pancreas are expected to be completed by August 2027.
Earlier, GxP News reported that researchers from the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, the Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, the Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science, and the Lebedev Physical Institute had developed a sea-cucumber-based implant for rehabilitation after chemotherapy.
