Diabetes is a life-threatening disease that affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States alone

When Insulet Corporation first partnered with EPAM Continuum, they were a three-person startup with a breakthrough idea for a new kind of insulin delivery system. Our team was tasked with turning Insulet’s vision into a reality by creating a subtle, pain-free and cost-effective alternative to traditional insulin pumps.

Key Challenges

The client envisioned an insulin patch that could adhere directly to the skin’s surface. This patch would automatically inject metered amounts of insulin according to the specific needs of the user, and be managed wirelessly via an integrated handheld device.

The catch: the technology behind the patch didn’t exist yet, and the company had an aggressive timeline for development. EPAM Continuum assembled a team of ethnographers, designers, and engineers to help Insulet bring this revolutionary medical solution to the market.

Solution Highlights

With EPAM Continuum’s help, Insulet triggered a paradigm shift in diabetes management. The breakthrough Omnipod Insulin Delivery System—comprised of a disposable insulin patch and remote “Personal Diabetes Manager” (PDM)—was the world’s first FDA-approved, wireless, tube-free insulin pump. Now covered by a broad range of health insurance plans, the Omnipod provides an affordable diabetes management option that eliminates the discomfort and inconvenience of earlier therapies.

Insulet’s Omnipod device is sold in multiple countries, most recently acquiring distribution rights in Canada. The company is also leveraging the Omnipod system for other subcutaneous drug therapies.

The Results

The commercial success of Omnipod launched Insulet Corporation from a three-person startup to a publicly traded company with over 500 employees. Their IPO raised $116 million in 2007, and since then, the company has grown steadily year over year. Insulet Corp.’s projected revenue for 2015 exceeds $280 million.

The Omnipod system has also received broad support from health insurance providers because the up-front cost of the wireless controller and starter kit of disposable pumps is much lower than that of durable insulin pumps. Also appealing is the prescription payment model for the disposable pumps, which disperses coverage costs over time.

Most importantly, Omnipod has given thousands of people a newfound sense of freedom and greater control managing their diabetes.

You can find the original case study from EPAM Continuum here.