A subsidiary of Bermuda-based Corange Ltd. is developing a new, painless, inexpensive test for diabetes.

Boehringer Mannheim Group (BM), the German pharmaceutical unit of the closely-held Corange, has together with SpectRx Inc. announced that they are collaborating to develop the world's fastest, non-invasive device for detecting diabetes.

Pending US Federal Drug Administration approval, the device that can detect the disease before the patient experiences damaging complications, should be available to medical professionals by late 1996.

The desk-top product provides results in less than a minute by taking measurements in a patient's eye with low-level, multi-coloured light beams. It will be configured to easily fit into a variety of medical settings and provide high quality results at costs below conventional screening methods which usually require a blood draw and lab work.

"Because our diabetes screening system is painless, less expensive and faster than what is currently available, we will identify more diabetics earlier,'' said SpectRx president, Mr. Mark Samuels.

"Early detection and rigorous treatment of diabetes can have profound results in slowing the progression of the disease.'' Dr. John Price of BM said: "Health care professionals and patients around the world look to Boehringer Mannheim for innovations in diabetes care. This product fits well in our family of diagnostic services which offer both the professional and the patient accuracy, convenience and lower costs.'' SpectRx chief operating officer Mr. Keith Ignotz said: "Our technology is designed to eliminate the practice of drawing blood to screen for diabetes.

Immediate results combined with the elimination of lab processing and blood disposal costs translates into better access to the health care system and lower costs for the payer of medical care.'' Under terms of agreement between the two firms, BM will have exclusive, world-wide marketing and distribution rights for the device. SpectRx, the developer of the technology, will manufacture the instruments. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Boehringer Mannheim is an international leader in the field of clinical chemistry, laboratory automation and diabetes monitoring. It is part of Boehringer Mannheim-Diagnostics, a division of Corange.

Corange Ltd., a closely held health care company with some $3.2 billion in annual worldwide sales, comprises BM-Diagnostics, BM-Therapeutics and DePuy-Orthopedics.

A beneficial owner and key leader in the Corange's development over the last several decades is Bermuda resident, Mr. Curt Engelhorn, who resides at Five Star Island.

SpectRx, Inc. is a privately-held Atlanta, Georgia-based medical technology development company.

Diabetes is a chronic and debilitating disease affecting 100 million worldwide. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the US costing the health care system $100 billion annually and affecting 14 million Americans, half of whom are undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association.

In Bermuda, figures on the effect on the population remain sketchy, and, in fact, local health officials expect to begin an epidemiological study in September to tie down some hard facts about the disease's effect on the Island population.

There already is some suggestion that more than six percent of Bermudians may be affected. Complications from diabetes include kidney disease, blindness and increased risk of heart disease.