BASEL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 9, 2026--
Ascensia Diabetes Care, a global diabetes care company and subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TYO 6523), today announced a strategic partnership with venture-backed health technology startup Sava Technologies to support the introduction and future commercialization of its innovative wearable microsensor. The partnership comprises an exclusive commercialization and distribution agreement, initially in Europe, and a concurrent financing agreement.
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Under this agreement, Ascensia has been appointed the exclusive distribution partner for Sava’s microsensor technology currently under development. The technology is being designed to continuously monitor relevant biomarkers and molecules, starting with glucose, just beneath the skin. Compared to traditional continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) on the market, Sava’s microsensor technology will offer a minimally invasive approach to glucose monitoring while providing additional insights to users.
Sava is planning for a pivotal clinical study for its CGM technology this year and aims to obtain CE approval and launch the microsensor within the next 18 to 24 months for non-adjunctive use. This would allow insulin dosing decisions without routine blood glucose monitoring confirmation. The companies plan for the CGM to be available through retail channels and under established reimbursement structures, which aligns with the go-to-market approach of Ascensia’s core business in blood glucose monitoring. Subject to regulatory approval, Ascensia plans to begin distribution in Europe, where both companies are headquartered.
Ascensia led the Series B financing round and has made a strategic equity investment in Sava. The long-term potential of Sava’s microsensor technology goes beyond glucose and can open the door to new ways of monitoring health and disease. This approach to using precision technology to create more personalized approaches to healthcare supports the vision of Ascensia’s parent company, PHC Holdings Corporation, which is known collectively with its subsidiaries as PHC Group.
Peter Bodlund, Chief Executive Officer of Ascensia, commented: “Microsensors have the potential to transform the day-to-day monitoring experience for people with diabetes. By bringing together Sava’s innovative technology with Ascensia’s deep diabetes expertise, strong reputation and commercial capabilities, we have an exciting opportunity to address important unmet needs in diabetes care. This is an exciting step for Ascensia as we continue to broaden our portfolio and pursue our ambition to simplify and improve life for people with diabetes.”
Rafaël Michali, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Sava, commented: “ Ascensia has spent decades earning the trust of people with diabetes and the clinicians who support them. Their strong global commercial organization, combined with our novel microsensor platform, gives us a route to a different monitoring experience at the scale this challenge demands. This partnership is the first step towards bringing that technology to the millions of people who need it.”
About Ascensia Diabetes Care
Ascensia Diabetes Care is a global company focused entirely on helping people with diabetes. Our mission is to empower those living with diabetes through innovative solutions that simplify and improve their lives.
We are home to the world-renowned CONTOUR ® portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems. These products combine advanced technology with user-friendly functionality to help people with diabetes manage their condition and make a positive difference to their lives. As a trusted partner in the diabetes community, we collaborate closely with healthcare professionals and other partners to ensure our products meet the highest standards of accuracy, precision and reliability, and that we conduct our business compliantly and with integrity.
Ascensia is a member of PHC Group and was established in 2016 through the acquisition of Bayer Diabetes Care by PHC Holdings Corporation. Ascensia products are sold in more than 90 countries, with direct commercial organizations in 29 countries worldwide. For further information, please visit the Ascensia Diabetes Care website at http://www.ascensia.com.
About Sava
Sava is a venture-backed consumer and medical device company developing a wearable biosensor platform that detects molecules just beneath the skin. Headquartered in London, Sava's novel microsensor technology monitors biomarkers painlessly and in real time - starting with, but not limited to, glucose. www.sava.health
Join Sava's waiting list at www.sava.health/waiting-list.
About PHC Holdings Corporation
PHC Holdings Corporation (TYO 6523) is a global collection of healthcare companies with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries (referred to collectively as PHC Group) include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Epredia, LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex and Mediford. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, life sciences and diagnostics. PHC Group’s consolidated net sales in FY2025 were JPY 364.4 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries. www.phchd.com
Ascensia Diabetes Care has announced a strategic partnership with health technology startup Sava Technologies to support the introduction and commercialization of its innovative wearable microsensor.
CHICAGO (AP) — Facing elimination for the second consecutive day, José Ramírez and the Cleveland Guardians responded once again.
“What this team is doing is only what we know how to do,” the All-Star third baseman said.
Ramírez homered and drove in three runs, and Cleveland beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday night to send their AL Division Series to a winner-take-all Game 5.
Patrick Bailey also went deep and Game 2 starter Gavin Williams came out of the bullpen to get the last three outs as the Guardians won in Chicago for the second straight day after beginning their postseason with two losses at home. Jo Adell hit a two-run single in a six-run sixth inning for the AL Central champions.
“This team has answered all year,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We talk about it — we punch back.”
Cleveland is looking to become the first club to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series since the 2017 New York Yankees accomplished the feat against, well, Cleveland. Teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have gone on to win 83 of 93 times.
Game 5 is back in Cleveland on Saturday night, and the winner will open the American League Championship Series at Tampa Bay next Monday.
The road team has won all four games in the only one of the four Division Series to go the distance this year.
“As we’ve battled back and forth with these guys, obviously fitting that it’s going to come down to this,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.
Chicago's bullpen — one of its biggest strengths in a surprising season — is suddenly looking very tired. Grant Taylor was hit hard after pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings over the first two games of the series, allowing four runs and four hits without retiring any of the six batters he faced during Cleveland's rally in the sixth.
“Body felt good, stuff felt good, just didn’t execute,” Taylor said.
Miguel Vargas homered for the White Sox, who flopped in their second straight bid to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. Sam Antonacci drove in two runs off the bench.
All-Star closer Cade Smith worked a scoreless eighth for the Guardians but gave up Vargas' first postseason homer and a walk to start the ninth. He was replaced by Williams, who was making his first career relief appearance and could still start Game 5 as well.
The right-hander needed 18 pitches to get three outs after throwing 98 pitches on Monday. He was the seventh Guardians reliever as the teams combined to use 15 pitchers in a game that took 3 hours, 39 minutes.
Williams went 14-8 this season and led the AL with 248 strikeouts.
“We’ve still got one more to win at home,” Bailey said. “Again, this was an awesome atmosphere to play in. We can’t wait to get back to Cleveland for Game 5.”
Cleveland trailed 2-0 before rallying in the fifth. Bailey led off with a pinch-hit homer, and Steven Kwan chased Erick Fedde with a one-out single.
Jordan Hicks came in and Ramírez drove a 99.9 mph fastball to right-center for just his second homer since Sept. 1, a span of 26 games. The seven-time All-Star had surgery after he broke a bone in his left hand on a swing June 13.
“It was José Ramírez being José Ramírez in the playoffs,” Vogt said.
It was Ramírez's first postseason homer since 2024 and No. 5 overall. He also starred in Game 3, finishing with two hits and two RBIs in Cleveland's 9-3 victory.
“It was really special,” Ramírez said through a translator. “It was great energy out there, and very special to share this with the guys.”
Chicago responded with two runs in the bottom half, sending a charge through the crowd of 39,920. Antonacci was hit by a pitch from Tim Herrin with the bases loaded, and Brenton Doyle made it 4-3 with a sacrifice fly. The White Sox had the bases loaded with two down, but rookie Braden Montgomery struck out swinging against winning pitcher Erik Sabrowski.
Antonacci has been plunked 33 times this year, including a franchise-record 29 in the regular season. The rookie became the first player in postseason history to be hit by a pitch with the bases loaded multiple times in a career, after he was also plunked in the same situation in Game 3.
Losing pitcher Anthony Kay started the sixth for Chicago, but the left-hander was replaced by Taylor after Travis Bazzana's RBI double tied it at 4. Bailey greeted Taylor with a run-scoring single, and Cleveland started to pull away.
Walks by Brayan Rocchio and Kwan loaded the bases for Ramírez, who made it 6-4 with an infield single. Chase DeLauter added another run-scoring single before Adell capped the outburst with a liner to right that drove in Kwan and Ramírez.
“I feel like we’ve been impacting the baseball a lot better the last two games,” Bailey said. “Obviously, the more you see a certain guy, kind of not necessarily more comfortable, but you get to see (those) kind of shapes more and more. Definitely helps.”
Adell hit a three-run triple during Cleveland's Game 3 victory. He has four hits, three walks and six RBIs in the series.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Chicago White Sox players watch from the dugout during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas watches his solo home run during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Gavin Williams delivers during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez celebrates after hitting a 2-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez hits a 2-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
