Drugs on a Chip

The world of implantable devices, like pacemakers and defibrillators, may become more interesting soon.

MicroCHIPS, Inc., a developer of innovative drug delivery and biosensing devices, has announced a $13.4 million dollar round of investment funding led by Novartis Venture Fund. Reinhard Ambros, Global Head of Novartis Venture Fund, has joined the company's board of directors. CSK Venture Capital of Japan also joined existing MicroCHIPS investors Polaris Venture Partners, IDG Ventures, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Intersouth Partners and Boston University Community Technology Fund in this round of financing.

The chip they've developed uses micro-reservoirs sealed by a small metal filament that can be heated to cause a "short" much like a fuse, and thereby releases the contents of the microreservoir. A study in dogs demonstrated consistent drug delivery over six months.

Cool. Very cool.

-Wes

References:
Microchips Press Release
Technology Review article.