- The Cost of Care
Diabetes is the world's
most common metabolic disease. In 1995, market sources estimated
that there were 13 million diabetics in the United States or
approximately 4.5% of the U.S. population. There are 21 million
diabetics in Europe and as many as 90 million worldwide. Type
1 patients compose from 5% to 10% of the total number of diabetics
in the U.S. or approximately one million patients. An additional
1.5 million Type 2 diabetics also take insulin. There are approximately
500,000 to 600,000 new patients annually in the U.S., of which
35,000 to 50,000 are Type 1 diabetics. Approximately 25 percent
of the new Type 2 patients will also take insulin.
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- Data
derived from the National Medical Expenditure Survey database
indicates that in 1995, diabetes accounted for over 10% of total
U.S. health care expenditures, or approximately $112 billion.
In 1992, the American Diabetes Association estimated that another
$47 billion was spent in indirect costs, such as lost wages.
Other sources have estimated that indirect costs may actually
exceed the direct costs. Complications of the disease include
amputations of toes and feet, blindness, ulcers, nerve damage
and cardiovascular, peridental, and kidney disease. Approximately
30% to 40% of people with Type 1 diabetes will develop diabetic
nephropathy leading to kidney dialysis and renal transplants.
Overall, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the
U.S.
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- Current
therapies, including insulin shots or oral hypoglycemic medication
modulate blood glucose, but can not consistently maintain the
diabetic's blood glucose at normal levels. The Diabetes Control
and Complications trial, a nine-year NIH study, demonstrated
that maintaining blood glucose at normal levels reduces by approximately
60% the risk of development and progression of diabetes complications.
However, there is no therapy which supplies insulin in response
to changes in blood glucose with the speed and precision of functioning
islets. The Company believes that successful transplantation
of islets capable of providing constant glucose control will
eliminate or ameliorate the complications of the disease.
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