Kailian Medical's Touchscreen Insulin Pump Receives NMPA Approval – China’s First Fully Touch-Controlled Device

Recently, domestic companies in China have achieved another breakthrough in the field of diabetes treatment—Kailian Medical Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Kailian Medical) announced that its self-developed touch-screen insulin pump has received approval from the NMPA.

This product is the first insulin pump in China to feature full touch-screen operation, breaking the monopoly of foreign brands on touch-screen insulin pumps, with an infusion accuracy of 0.01 U/hour.It is the new standard for insulin infusion system control.Currently, Kailian Medical has entered into an exclusive partnership with Invida, a well-known listed company with a century-long history, for the promotion of this product to customers in mainland China.

“The launch of our strategic partnership with Kailian Medical aims to better serve the more than 140 million people with diabetes in China, particularly by addressing the diverse needs of patients with diabetic complications and providing a wider range of treatment options during the mid-to-late stages of diabetes management,” said Huang Xuemei, Global Vice President of Inbetta.

Insulin is not only the primary treatment for type 1 diabetes; newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes, perioperative patients with hyperglycemia, and those with gestational diabetes can also benefit from short-term intensive insulin pump therapy. Among various delivery methods, such as insulin pens and syringes, insulin pumps have garnered significant attention for their ability to better help patients maintain stable blood glucose levels throughout the day. Major players like Medtronic, Insulet, and Tandem are heavily investing in this field, while numerous Chinese manufacturers are closely following suit, striving for breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, the global insulin pump market has also experienced rapid growth. According to Frost & Sullivan and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the global insulin pump market size is projected to reach $20.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% from 2020 to 2030. Among these regions, the market penetration rates of insulin pumps in the United States and Europe have reached 20% and 15%, respectively.

However, when we focus on the domestic market, we discover a striking contrast—the market penetration rate of insulin pumps in China is only about 0.6%.

What Has “Driven” This 0.6% Market Penetration Rate? Where Lie the Key Growth Levers? On the Occasion of Kailian Medical’s Touchscreen Insulin Pump Receiving Regulatory Approval, We Interviewed Huang Xiaomin, Founder and CEO of Kailian Medical, and Li Yin, Co-Founder and COO of Kailian Medical, to Seek Answers.

In Li Yin’s view,The primary reason for the low market penetration of insulin pumps in China, aside from price factors, is their "complex operation."

As a product that has been in clinical use internationally for over 40 years and in the domestic market for more than 20 years, insulin pumps are widely recognized among doctors and patients in China. However, since most current insulin pumps operate via button-based controls,The relatively cumbersome operation of insulin pumps has, to some extent, limited their market promotion, particularly in primary care markets.

Therefore, the founding team of Kailian Medical began to consider whether simplifying the operation of insulin pumps could help boost their market penetration.

The initial inspiration came from a case that disrupted the mobile phone industry. Huang Xiaomin, Founder and CEO of Kailian Medical, told VCBeat that the release of the first-generation iPhone in 2007 heralded the arrival of a new era for mobile phones. A key factor was its adoption of touch-based interaction. Psychological studies have shown that touch is the most intuitive mode of human perception; when employed as a method of human-computer interaction, it delivers a highly convenient and easy-to-learn experience while meeting a wide range of application needs.

Furthermore, the success of a foreign brand’s touchscreen insulin pump has bolstered Kailian Medical’s confidence in developing its own touchscreen insulin pump. Therefore,After three years of dedicated efforts, Kailian Medical successfully launched China's first full-touchscreen insulin pump.

This product abandons the mechanical button operation and the common five-level menu design found in typical insulin pumps, introducing touch-based interaction and an optimized UI design to make operation and setup simpler and more intuitive. Furthermore, the product incorporates fingerprint unlocking to ensure secure usage.In other words, from children to the elderly, as long as users can operate the WeChat function on their smartphones, they can easily use this insulin pump product.

To make it easier for patients to use insulin pumps, Kailian Medical has gone to great lengths—and then some. VCBeat learned thatKailian Medical's touch-screen insulin pump, which eliminates mechanical buttons, features a more compact and lightweight design, weighing only 60g.“Do you know about the small watch pocket in jeans? This often-overlooked pocket can hold our touch-screen insulin pump,” Li Yin revealed to VCBeat in an interview.

A smaller form factor, lighter weight, and even simpler operation are all designed to enable patients to use insulin pumps with ease anytime, anywhere. Such compact, portable, and user-friendly insulin pump products not only improve patient adherence but also lower the barrier to use, thereby driving higher product penetration rates.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning thatAs a micro-dose drug infusion device, Kailian Medical’s touch-screen insulin pump achieves a minimum basal infusion rate of 0.01 U/hour. This not only demonstrates that Kailian Medical’s precise infusion technology is at the forefront of the industry, but also helps to increase market penetration.Because more precise infusion tools help refine clinical indications and expand insulin therapy to a broader population, such as children.

Moreover, it is worth noting that product price remains one of the primary factors constraining market penetration. The high market penetration of insulin pumps in regions such as the United States and the European Union is largely attributable to their inclusion in medical insurance reimbursement schemes. In this regard, Li Yin revealed to VCBeat in an interview that,While ensuring superior product performance, the price of Kailian Medical's touchscreen insulin pump is comparable to that of mainstream products currently available on the market.

Intelligent digital management of diabetes has become an industry-recognized development trend. AndKailian Medical has been committed to building an intelligent diabetes management ecosystem since its inception.

At the product level, taking Kailian Medical’s recently approved touch-screen insulin pump as an example,This product utilizes new Bluetooth communication technology to enable better transmission and management of device data. Combined with Kailian Medical’s proprietary cloud data management technology, which has been independently developed over the past decade, it facilitates digital and intelligent management of diabetes.

According to Huang Xiaomin,Leveraging its cloud data management technology, Kailian Medical has established a cloud-based software management platform and a mobile app.Through this platform and app, patients, their families, and physicians can monitor insulin pump usage in real time, while Kailian Medical’s customer service team can promptly review usage data and provide corresponding maintenance guidance.

Furthermore,Through this platform, Kailian Medical can also collaborate with various CGM manufacturers to jointly build a digital and intelligent diabetes management system that integrates blood glucose monitoring and infusion. In an interview, Huang Xiaomin, Founder and CEO of Kailian Medical, revealed that the company has already partnered with some CGM manufacturers to co-develop “artificial pancreas” products, thereby promoting more digital and intelligent diabetes management.

Furthermore,Kailian Medical is also actively expanding into overseas markets, with the European Union and select Southeast Asian countries serving as its primary destinations for international expansion; the company has already signed strategic cooperation agreements with relevant partners.“The intelligentization of chronic disease management and the expansion into overseas markets are undoubtedly the key development trends for the industry’s future. In response, we will actively develop next-generation insulin pump technology and seek partnership channels in overseas markets,” summarized Huang Xiaomin. “The touch-screen insulin pump product recently approved is our ‘stepping stone’ to enter the markets for intelligent diabetes management and overseas territories.”