Google and Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis have announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop the smart contact lens that would help diabetics to track their blood glucose levels. Novartis’s eye-care arm Alcon will work with Google X division to market the lens.
The smart lens for diabetics would measure glucose in tear fluid and send the data wirelessly to a mobile device. It features “non-invasive sensors, microchips and other miniaturized electronics which are embedded within contact lenses”.
Although diabetic patients are the target market, Novartis said it was also interested in the possibility of treating severe presbyopia, also known as age-related long-sightedness, which leaves patients unable to read.
Novartis CEO Joseph Jimenez says,
We are looking forward to working with Google to bring together their advanced technology and our extensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs.This is a key step for us to go beyond the confines of traditional disease management, starting with the eye.
Sergey Brin, Co-Founder, Google says,
Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people.We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true.