MIT and Apollon Publish Clinical Validation of Needle-Free Continuous Glucose Monitor, Matching Accuracy of FDA-Cleared Devices
Boston-based medtech startup demonstrates non-invasive Raman CGM performs on par with Abbott and Dexcom in peer-reviewed study
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 1, 2026 — MIT's Laser Biomedical Research Center (LBRC) and Apollon Inc., a Boston-based medtech startup, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed clinical study in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. The study demonstrates that a compact, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device based on band-pass Raman spectroscopy achieves clinical accuracy statistically comparable to FDA-cleared needle-based sensors from Abbott and Dexcom — with no skin insertion, no adhesive patch, and no consumables.
The study was led by Arianna Bresci, PhD, of MIT's LBRC, with co-authors Youngkyu Kim, PhD, and Miyeon Jue, PhD, of Apollon Inc., Peter T.C. So, PhD, and Jeon Woong Kang, PhD, of MIT's Departments of Biological and Mechanical Engineering, and Lorenza Pia Foglia, PhD, and Elyse Moores, who contributed to the study as research interns with Apollon. Kang, the study's corresponding author, is a core collaborator of Apollon's ongoing research program at MIT.
Key Findings
MARD of 11.3%, statistically indistinguishable from Abbott FreeStyle Libre 3 and Dexcom G7
Agreement Rate (20/20) of 87.35%, in line with FDA's performance criteria for CGM devices
100% of readings within clinically acceptable zones of the Parkes Consensus Error Grid
Near-zero measurement bias of 0.29 mg/dL, compared to -7.31 mg/dL (Abbott) and 6.57 mg/dL (Dexcom)
Zero adverse skin reactions following 4.5 hours of laser exposure
The device probes glucose molecules in the interstitial fluid transdermally using three ultra-narrow Raman bands, eliminating the need for bulky spectrometers and enabling a compact, low-cost design without sacrificing sensitivity. Unlike conventional CGMs that require weekly sensor replacement and cost patients $2,000 to $6,000 per year, Apollon's approach requires no consumables over the device lifetime.
"This is a meaningful clinical milestone for both teams," said Jeon Woong Kang, PhD, corresponding author and Principal Research Scientist at MIT. "By targeting only three Raman bands instead of a full spectrum, we have shown that clinical-grade glucose monitoring is achievable with compact, low-cost instrumentation. This opens a real path toward a wearable, needle-free device."
"Matching the accuracy of cleared devices without touching the skin is exactly the milestone we built toward," said Aram Hong, Founder and CEO of Apollon. "We are now preparing the next stage of validation at Boston Medical Center, with a more advanced device, and moving forward on our FDA regulatory strategy."
Next Steps: Clinical Study at Boston Medical Center
Building on these results, Apollon will conduct a clinical feasibility study at Boston Medical Center (BMC) in the second half of 2026. The study will expand validation to a broader population of patients with diabetes and advance the company's FDA regulatory pathway.
Apollon is supported by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI), which is funding the company's clinical testing at MIT's Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR). The company holds 16 issued US patents, with 44 total including pending applications, covering optical architecture, AI-powered calibration, and wearable form factors. To date, Apollon has raised approximately $4M pre-Series A — a lean capital profile that reflects the team's ability to reach clinical-grade validation ahead of a major fundraising round.
About Apollon
Apollon Inc. is a medtech startup headquartered in Boston, MA, with R&D operations in Seoul, South Korea. The company is developing Moglu, a wearable non-invasive CGM based on Raman spectroscopy, targeting the hundreds of millions of people living with diabetes who have no needle-free continuous monitoring option. Apollon is a recipient of the CES 2025 Innovation Award, a MassChallenge 2025 graduate, and a partner of MIT's Laser Biomedical Research Center, Boston Medical Center, and Joslin Diabetes Center.
About MIT's Laser Biomedical Research Center
The Laser Biomedical Research Center (LBRC) at MIT's G.R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory develops advanced optical and photonic technologies for biomedical applications. The LBRC is part of MIT's Center for Clinical and Translational Research and is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.
