Bayer Partners with WaveForm to Launch Innovative Continuous Glucose Monitoring Solution for Chinese Patients

Beijing, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer today announced a commercial collaboration agreement with WaveForm Technologies, Inc. (WaveForm). By combining WaveForm’s innovative proprietary technology with Bayer’s extensive experience and expertise in diabetes management, this partnership will deliver innovative continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) solutions to patients and physicians in China. Headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon, USA, WaveForm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AgaMatrix Holdings, Inc., and develops next-generation continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products.

Jiang Wei, Global Executive Vice President of Bayer’s Prescription Drugs Division and President of China and Asia-Pacific, as well as President of Greater China at Bayer Group, stated, “Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases threatening public health, and early monitoring and detection are prerequisites for prevention and treatment. Bayer hopes to leverage its expertise in effective diabetes management, combined with WaveForm’s innovative technology, to provide Chinese patients and the public with convenient and efficient blood glucose monitoring solutions.”

Regular blood glucose monitoring plays a crucial role in improving the effectiveness of diabetes management. Continuous glucose monitoring can continuously and comprehensively track blood glucose levels, reflecting fluctuations in an individual's blood glucose throughout the day, thereby providing valuable information for evaluating and guiding diabetes treatment.

According to the latest data released by the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 116 million adults in China are estimated to have diabetes, with over 65 million remaining undiagnosed.^[1]. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that only 32.2% of all diabetic patients in China received treatment, and among them, merely 49.2% achieved effective glycemic control.^[2]。

Leveraging its extensive experience and comprehensive product portfolio in the field of diabetes, Bayer not only strives continuously to help patients with diabetes improve treatment outcomes, effectively manage complications, and enhance their quality of life, but also helps individuals with prediabetes (specifically Impaired Glucose Tolerance, IGT) delay the onset of diabetes. To address the increasingly severe health challenges posed by the high prevalence of diabetes in China, Bayer actively collaborates with industry associations, healthcare experts, and other relevant stakeholders. By integrating public education, screening, and preventive treatment initiatives, these joint efforts aim to advance diabetes management in China. Since 2019, Bayer has partnered with the China Health Promotion Foundation to launch the "Diabetes Prevention Action" public welfare project. Through online interactive platforms, offline expert Q&A consultations, and community education and training programs, this initiative seeks to raise public awareness and health literacy regarding diabetes prevention and control, thereby improving the effectiveness of diabetes management.

John Alberico, CEO of AgaMatrix Holdings, stated, “We are delighted to partner with Bayer to bring novel blood glucose monitoring solutions to patients in China. This solution offers advantages such as extended wear time and painless insertion, while its comprehensive CGM capabilities provide real-time data and alerts. Leveraging Bayer’s expertise and leadership in diabetes management, this collaboration will deliver greater benefits to patients in China.”

Leveraging patented innovations across multiple blood glucose sensor technologies, WaveForm’s CGM system enables users to conveniently view the latest glucose readings, updated every minute, on their smartphones. With a single-use sensor wearable for up to 15 days, this innovative system continuously monitors glucose levels in interstitial fluid. The sensor connects to a reusable transmitter via Bluetooth.^®Transmit accurately measured blood glucose data every minute to the mobile app, without the need for additional receiving devices.

Under the agreement, WaveForm will be responsible for obtaining marketing authorization for the Cascade CGM System in China and undertaking post-market maintenance activities; Bayer will be responsible for the commercialization, distribution, and sales of the system in China, as well as customer support. Bayer and WaveForm will also jointly explore customized upgrades of CGM products to meet the needs of patients and healthcare providers in China.

In November 2019, WaveForm’s Cascade CGM System received the CE mark in Europe. The product has begun commercial operations in select European countries.

Dr. Marianne De Backer, Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division and Head of Global Business Development, stated: “Bayer aims to translate innovation into solutions that meaningfully benefit patients. Partnering with an outstanding collaborator like WaveForm represents a highly significant strategic move. China is a key focus of our corporate partnership strategy, and we are continuously seeking partners for the development of digital technologies.”

Bayer's Prescription Drug Business Development Team facilitated this collaboration.

About Bayer

As a multinational corporation, Bayer possesses core competencies in health and nutrition within the life sciences sector. The company is committed to helping people overcome the major challenges posed by global population growth and aging through its products and services, thereby benefiting humanity. Meanwhile, the Group enhances profitability and creates value through technological innovation and business growth. Bayer is dedicated to sustainable development. Worldwide, the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability, and quality. In the 2019 fiscal year, Bayer had approximately 104,000 employees, with sales amounting to €43.5 billion, capital expenditures of €2.9 billion, and research and development investments of €5.3 billion. For more information, please seewww.bayer.com。

AboutWaveFormCompany

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of AgaMatrix Holdings, Inc., WaveForm is dedicated to discovering and developing novel patented technologies for the treatment of diabetes. Products under development by WaveForm include innovative continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor technology, along with associated firmware, software, and data storage platforms. WaveForm is also developing a proprietary “closed-loop” insulin delivery platform, designed to provide a comprehensive solution for patients with diabetes.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements made by the management of Bayer Group based on current assumptions and forecasts. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors may cause the company's actual future operating results, financial position, development, or performance to differ materially from the estimates made in these forward-looking statements. These factors include those listed on Bayer’s official websitehttp://www.bayer.com/Bayer’s various reports publicly disclosed. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to align them with future events or developments.

[1] IDF Diabetes Atlas 2019, https://www.idf.org/component/attachments/?task=download&id=2105:WDD2019-Regional-PR-China_Final
[2] Wang, L., et al. Prevalence and Ethnic Pattern of Diabetes and Prediabetes in China in 2013.JAMA. 2017 Jun 27;317(24):2515-2523.2