W.L. Gore & Associates is setting its sights on helping to improve insulin delivery for patients with type 1 diabetes. To do this the Newark, DE-based company is investing in PhysioLogic Devices, a startup in Alpine, CA that is developing an implantable intraperitoneal insulin delivery system.

The investment is expected to provide supplemental funding to allow PhysioLogic to reduce key challenges associated with implantable micropumps and actuators and enable the startup's development goals for the upcoming years.

An essential part of the system that PhysioLogic is developing is an implanted catheter for intraperitoneal insulin delivery. Independently, Gore said it will apply its material science expertise to resolve obstructions that can occur in these catheters.

"Overcoming catheter obstructions plays an important role in the development of intraperitoneal insulin delivery systems," Greg Peterson, CEO of PhysioLogic, said in a press release. "We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Gore to solve this technical challenge based on Gore's material science capability and develop a system that offers our life-changing treatment to millions of individuals living with insulin-requiring diabetes."

This investment in PhysioLogic was realized through Gore's Micro-Equity Investment program, which offers investments of up to $500,000 to early-stage companies in support of joint development agreements and collaborations.

While Gore is mostly known in medtech for its products that treat aneurysms, the company has had collaborations in the diabetes space before. In 2017, ViaCyte tapped Gore to help develop a delivery device for a stem cell-based therapy for diabetes. The relationship between the two companies grew even stronger in 2018, as Gore invested $10 million in ViaCyte.