Abbott Laboratories and Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. have finalized an agreement related to integrated diabetes solutions. Specifically, the duo is planning to combine Abbott's Freestyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology with San Diego-based Tandem's insulin delivery systems, with an eye toward providing more options for diabetes management.

The U.S. FDA finally granted Abbott Laboratories' Freestyle Libre 2 clearance as an integrated continuous glucose monitor (iCGM) for adults and children age 4 and older with diabetes. Abbott received CE mark for the device more than 18 months ago and discussed its submission to the FDA in an earnings call over a year ago. Abbott expects the device to be available at pharmacies and durable medical equipment suppliers within weeks.

Royalty deals by an investor into a particular pharmaceutical company program are not unheard of. This structure allows the investor to secure a portion of that specific anticipated upside, while enabling the pharma to fully fund R&D for that program without having to sacrifice other priorities to do so.

San Diego startup Glysens Inc., which is developing implantable continuous glucose monitoring (ICGM) technology, closed a $15 million incremental financing. The funds will be used to support ongoing clinical trials and development of the company’s fully implanted, long-term CGM systems.

Medtronic plc, of Dublin, has gained CE-marking approval for its Minimed 780g system, a next-generation closed-loop insulin pump for people with type 1 diabetes between the ages of 7 and 80 years old. The advanced hybrid closed-loop system (AHCL) features an advanced autocorrection algorithm and Bluetooth connectivity.

Investigators are working to develop electrogenetic devices that use remote-controlled electrical stimulation to elicit specific behaviors in engineered cells.

Informed Data Systems Inc., doing business as One Drop, purchased the assets and intellectual property of Sano Intelligence Inc. for an undisclosed amount. San Francisco-based Sano has been developing a wearable continuous glucose sensor that enables users to track blood glucose levels and other blood chemistry via a smart phone app for nearly a decade. One Drop will integrate the stick-on device into its personalized digital care program for diabetics and people with other chronic conditions.

PARIS – Diabeloop SAS, of Grenoble, France, has launched a real-world study of its automated insulin delivery DBLG1 system, incorporating the Dana-I pump from Sooil Development Co. Ltd., of Seoul, South Korea.

Fractyl Laboratories Inc. has released data from a mixed meal tolerance study that shows its procedure for resurfacing the duodenal mucosa improves fasting blood glucose and reduces liver fat.

Trying to build out a new med-tech product category is a time-consuming and costly endeavor. Senseonics Holdings Inc. has long pursued the vision of extended-use, implantable continuous glucose monitoring. Since it was founded in 1996, the Germantown, Md.-based company has already spent roughly half a billion dollars to get there.