Tandem Diabetes Care announced new integrations and gave an update on its planned patch pumps at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions last weekend.
The diabetes tech firm said on Friday that it is integrating its t:slim X2 insulin pump with Abbott’s newest glucose sensor, the Freestyle Libre 3 Plus. Earlier this month, the companies also announced that Tandem would connect its insulin pumps with Abbott’s planned glucose-ketone sensor, which Abbott hopes to launch next year.
Elizabeth Gasser, Tandem’s chief strategy and product officer, told MedTech Dive the goal of the collaboration is to reach as many people with diabetes as possible. The integration with Abbott’s Freestyle Libre 3 Plus is currently in an early access launch, Gasser said, with plans to expand to more patients in the second half of the year.
“I think it will be very meaningful in helping us position for those in Type 1 and insulin intensive Type 2 that have not yet found their way to a pump,” Gasser said.
She shared more about Tandem’s future plans in an interview ahead of the conference.
Type 2 update
Tandem received an expanded indication in February for its automated insulin delivery system, or AID, to be used by people with Type 2 diabetes. The company has started the launch with a pilot, Gasser said. Tandem’s AID system has been prescribed off-label for years to people with Type 2 diabetes, the exec added, but as access expands to more users, “we definitely need to be conscious about how we adapt technology.”
Upcoming patch pumps
Tandem is working on two patch pump options: a tubeless option for its Mobi pump and a separate patch pump called Sigi. Gasser declined to share timelines for either device, but said Tandem has started design verification testing on the Mobi patch feature. Sigi, which is designed specifically for tubeless wear, will come after Mobi, she said.
Tandem’s goal with Mobi is to challenge people’s assumptions about what it means to be tubeless, Gasser said.
“It's historically been associated with a very specific form factor, and we don't believe that has to be the case,” she said.
One reason a patient might choose a durable tubeless pump, instead of one that is completely disposable, like Insulet’s Omnipod, is so they can detach the device without losing insulin. Patients can also experiment with wear time because the pump site lasts longer than the insulin cartridge, Gasser said. A durable pump can offer more processing power for AID algorithms, and leads to less electronics waste by using rechargeable batteries.
What’s next?
Tandem plans to do early feasibility work for a next generation algorithm, Gasser said. Earlier this year, the company signed a long-term research agreement with the University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology to work on a fully closed-loop system, meaning that all insulin delivery would be automated.
As other companies announce their own plans for patch pumps and algorithm updates, Gasser acknowledged growing competition in the diabetes tech sector, adding that it is ultimately good for patients.
“There's not one size fits all here, and I appreciate the point that that requires investing with an intensity and a pace, and it's not always easy to plug these ecosystems together,” Gasser said. “But we think it's the right thing to do — and look, game on.”
