Apple Watch could gain glucose monitoring features by 2022
An SEC filing for UK startup Rockley Photonics has revealed a significant relationship with Apple, one that could result in the introduction of blood sugar monitoring functions to the Apple Watch as soon as 2022.
Rockley Photonics is a UK-based company that designs sensors for monitoring a person's blood using infrared light. The sensors are said to be capable of monitoring elements normally possible using medical or specialized equipment, including monitoring blood glucose and alcohol levels.
In an SEC filing first reported by the UK's Telegraph, Rockley is preparing to go public in New York, and has revealed details about its financial relationships. According to the document, Apple is identified as one of its "few large customers."
Rockley claims the two largest customers on its books accounted for 100% of the firm's revenue in 2020, and 99.6% in 2019. While it is unclear if Apple is the company's biggest or second-largest customer, it seems highly probable that Apple's interest in sensors and improving its products, as well as being named in the filing, could equate to it being a major client of the startup.
The firm is said to have an ongoing "supply and development agreement" with the company, which it anticipates to continue to rely on for the majority of its income. Most of its revenue also stems from engineering fees for development work on future products.
Rockley CEO Andrew Rickman said he anticipates technology developed by the company will be in consumer products by 2022, though declined to state whether it will involve Apple.
Apple has long been rumored to be working on ways to add glucose monitoring to the Apple Watch, with rumors about the "Apple Watch Series 7" claiming the feature is on the way. Apple has also been working on patent applications for components that could be used to monitor glucose levels through the skin, instead of relying on drawing blood.
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Rockley Photonics is a UK-based company that designs sensors for monitoring a person's blood using infrared light. The sensors are said to be capable of monitoring elements normally possible using medical or specialized equipment, including monitoring blood glucose and alcohol levels.
In an SEC filing first reported by the UK's Telegraph, Rockley is preparing to go public in New York, and has revealed details about its financial relationships. According to the document, Apple is identified as one of its "few large customers."
Rockley claims the two largest customers on its books accounted for 100% of the firm's revenue in 2020, and 99.6% in 2019. While it is unclear if Apple is the company's biggest or second-largest customer, it seems highly probable that Apple's interest in sensors and improving its products, as well as being named in the filing, could equate to it being a major client of the startup.
The firm is said to have an ongoing "supply and development agreement" with the company, which it anticipates to continue to rely on for the majority of its income. Most of its revenue also stems from engineering fees for development work on future products.
Rockley CEO Andrew Rickman said he anticipates technology developed by the company will be in consumer products by 2022, though declined to state whether it will involve Apple.
Apple has long been rumored to be working on ways to add glucose monitoring to the Apple Watch, with rumors about the "Apple Watch Series 7" claiming the feature is on the way. Apple has also been working on patent applications for components that could be used to monitor glucose levels through the skin, instead of relying on drawing blood.
Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider," and you'll get latest AppleInsider Podcast. Or ask your HomePod mini for "AppleInsider Daily" instead and you'll hear a fast update direct from our news team. And, if you're interested in Apple-centric home automation, say "Hey, Siri, play HomeKit Insider," and you'll be listening to our newest specialized podcast in moments.
Comments
stock to $200
What a childish comment. Don’t you think that many companies have been working on this for years. The question is just who is going to make it first because this would be a game changer for every company.
BTW: Samsung could launch it this year already. Would that make Apple copying Samsung? Certainly not!
https://www.wareable.com/samsung/samsung-galaxy-watch-4-to-get-blood-glucose-tracking-this-year-8277
"Drinking the Kool-Aid" is not really healthy.
While you might disagree with his comment, it was in no way "childish". The insult was unnecessary and uncalled for.
There is anecdotal evidence that we are very close to seeing such a device this year. Then others will not be far behind.
Whoever gets a product out of the gate first will enjoy an ever so slight commercial advantage. Then it will be a case of precision which in many cases isn't actually what users need as an absolute reading. As long as the device is calibrated, the user will be more than happy to detect which way blood glucose levels are going before the situation reaches an extreme (especially in cases of insulin resistance, neuropathologies, and falling levels during sleep).
Then a regular pin prick can be used as confirmation. This is actually still recommended even for 'invasive' CGM.
Last year, during a watch presentation by Huawei, Richard Yu accidentally said it had glucose monitoring before quickly correcting himself.
It's the kind of slip up that just doesn't come out by itself. He probably has a finished product he is already testing and rumours this year have simply added weight to the idea.
I'm optimistic that we won't have long to wait now.