Medtronic plc looks to establish a moat around its diabetes pump position with an exclusive global partnership with Abbott Laboratories to develop a Freestyle Libre-based CGM that works with Medtronic’s smart dosing devices and insulin pump.
Results presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 84th Scientific Sessions in Orlando this weekend demonstrated significant reductions in blood glucose and insulin requirements in people with type 2 diabetes using Insulet Corp.’s Omnipod 5 automated insulin delivery (AID) system, providing a solid base for the company’s expansion into a much larger market.
With hybrid closed-loop systems for automated insulin delivery increasingly being seen as life changing for people with diabetes, Vicentra BV has teamed up with Diabeloop SA and Dexcom Inc. to launch a system to help people with type 1 diabetes manage their condition.
Glucometrics Co. Ltd. is rolling out its self-developed application programming interface (API) for diabetes care in steps, and the latest partnership with G2E Co. Ltd. is underway to develop a smart insulin pen loaded with the interface.
In another boost to its diabetes portfolio, Medtronic plc was granted CE mark approval for its Simplera continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor. The EU greenlight for Simplera follows the U.S. FDA approval for Medronic’s Minimed 780G insulin pump system earlier in the year. Simplera is an all-in-one disposable CGM sensor which features a two-step insertion process and will help patients who must have multiple daily injections (MDI) manage their diabetes.
Two tough years have taken a toll on Medtronic plc with a warning letter for its diabetes unit, a reorganization that will spin off its respiratory, patient care and renal groups and layoffs of an undisclosed number of employees that began last week. The announcement late Friday of the U.S. FDA approval of the Minimed 780G insulin pump system could be a turning point for the company that brings it back into the competition for the growing diabetes market.
An artificial pancreas system that draws on research conducted at the University of Virginia to effectively combine Dexcom Inc.’s continuous glucose monitor and Tandem Diabetes Care Inc.’s artificial intelligence-enabled insulin pump works effectively in children under 6 years of age with type 1 diabetes, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed.
Insulet Corp. reported much better than expected fourth quarter results, following on Dexcom Inc.’s report of earlier than expected coverage decision from CMS for its just-approved G7 continuous glucose monitor. Insulet (NASDAQ:PODD) soundly beat Wall Street’s expectations for quarterly revenue by $38 million, bringing in $332 million instead of the anticipated $332 million, driven by strong uptake of its Omnipod tubeless insulin pump.
Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. entered a definitive agreement to acquire AMF Medical SA for CHF 62.4 million (US$67.1 million) in cash at closing plus future payments of as much as CHF 129.6 million (US$139.43 million) contingent on meeting certain milestones. Tandem also invested CHF 8 million (US$8.6 million) in AMF in the third quarter of 2022. The transaction is expected to close in January 2023.
Medtronic plc’s new Extended infusion set shows the advantages of tending to details. Tubing doesn’t get much respect, but the changes Medtronic made to its set will substantially reduce the burden of disease management for patients with diabetes who use insulin pumps. The Medtronic Extended infusion set can be used for up to seven days, more than doubling the time between changes. The changes also sharply reduced insulin loss, resulting in a 25% reduction in waste of the increasingly expensive medication.
