Dive Brief:
- Medtronic and Abbott each announced new connected insulin pen integrations for their continuous glucose monitor systems Monday. Both collaborations are non-exclusive.
- Medtronic's CGM devices will integrate with future Novo Nordisk insulin pens under a new agreement with the Danish pharma.
- Abbott partnered with Sanofi to make its FreeStyle Libre system compatible with future smart pens, insulin titration apps and cloud software developed with the French company.
Dive Insight:
The partnerships announced Monday are the latest device integrations for insulin competitors Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Eli Lilly as they attempt to expand the reach of their connected insulin pens, regardless of a user's sensor preference. Similarly, the agreements widen exposure for CGM makers to people using digital insulin delivery systems beyond insulin pumps.
Novo Nordisk said the Medtronic agreement means it now partners with all major CGM manufacturers, having announced an integration with Abbott's FreeStyle Libre tech in February and with Dexcom, Roche and Glooko's respective CGMs and blood glucose meters last October.
Novo said it plans to launch the NovoPen 6 and NovoPen Echo Plus durable insulin pens, plus disposable, pre-filled injection solution, beginning in 2020. Medtronic's Guardian Connect CGM system will be updated to integrate data from these pens, the companies said.
Sanofi and Abbott expect products of their partnership to be made available "within the next few years, pending local regulatory approvals." The companies said the collaboration will initially enable data sharing for consenting users between the FreeStyle Libre mobile app and cloud software and Sanofi's in-development pens, apps and cloud software, aiming to assist people with diabetes and their doctors to make better-informed treatment decisions.
"Everybody wants cross-platform integration," for both insulin pumps and pens, said analyst David Kliff of Diabetic Investor. Lilly, Novo and Sanofi "have nothing to lose and everything to gain by partnering with all the sensor players."
Abbott is awaiting U.S. marketing authorization for the next generation of FreeStyle Libre, which may or may not be labeled an iCGM. Abbott's diabetes care unit brought in $602 million in the most recent quarter, with revenue growth from FreeStyle Libre reportedly topping 60%.
Medtronic's diabetes business grew 3.5% in the last earnings period to $592 million in revenue, with international sales offsetting declines in the U.S.
