Latest Developments in Diabetes Management Technology Unveiled at ATTD Conference

The Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference in Amsterdam has become a showcase for the latest innovations in diabetes care, with major players in the medical device industry presenting groundbreaking data and new product developments.

Dexcom Advances CGM Technology with 15-Day Sensor

Dexcom, a leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, has shared preliminary data for its new 15-day CGM sensor. This extended-wear device matches the duration of competitor Abbott's Freestyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, potentially reshaping the CGM market landscape.

The new sensor boasts an impressive mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 8%, which Dexcom claims makes it the most accurate CGM available. This metric is crucial for patients and healthcare providers, as it measures the average difference between device measurements and reference blood glucose levels.

Dexcom's COO Jake Leach expressed optimism about receiving FDA clearance for the device in the second half of this year. Industry analysts, including Leerink Partners' Mike Kratky, view this development as an "incremental positive" for Dexcom, noting the potential for improved profit margins if insurance reimbursement remains similar for fewer sensor changes per month.

Tandem Diabetes Care Presents Pivotal Trial Results for Type 2 Diabetes

Tandem Diabetes Care has unveiled new data supporting the recent FDA clearance of its Control-IQ+ algorithm for Type 2 diabetes management. This advancement makes Tandem the second company to offer an authorized automated insulin delivery (AID) system for Type 2 diabetes, following Insulet's expanded indication in August.

The pivotal trial, involving 319 participants, demonstrated significant improvements in glycemic control. Patients using Tandem's Control-IQ+ algorithm in conjunction with Dexcom's G6 sensor experienced a 0.9% reduction in A1C levels, compared to a 0.3% reduction in the control group. Moreover, time spent in the target blood sugar range increased by 16%, equating to an additional 3.4 hours per day.

These results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, underscore the potential of AID systems in improving outcomes for Type 2 diabetes patients. J.P. Morgan analyst Robbie Marcus highlighted the data as a positive indicator for broader adoption of insulin pumps in Type 2 diabetes treatment.

Insulet Reinforces Efficacy of AID Systems Alongside GLP-1 Medications

Insulet has presented a sub-analysis of its pivotal trial that led to the Type 2 diabetes indication for its AID system last year. The analysis focused on the efficacy of AID systems in patients also taking GLP-1 or SGLT2 medications, which have gained prominence in diabetes treatment.

The results showed that Type 2 diabetes patients on insulin therapy experienced similar glycemic benefits from the AID system, regardless of concurrent GLP-1 or SGLT2 medication use. This finding is particularly relevant as the use of medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro becomes more widespread.

Insulet CEO Jim Hollingshead emphasized the continued clinical need for CGMs and insulin pumps, even for patients taking both insulin and GLP-1 medications. This data aims to address concerns about the potential impact of newer diabetes medications on the adoption of diabetes technology.

As the diabetes technology landscape continues to evolve, these developments from Dexcom, Tandem, and Insulet highlight the industry's commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative management solutions.