The leading manufacturer of insulin pumps and the most renowned sensor producer have officially announced a partnership in the fields of sensors, pumps, and the innovative InPen insulin injection system!
This collaboration will integrate Libre sensors with the Medtronic 780G insulin pump and its algorithm for automatic management of high and low glucose levels. Abbott will focus on what it does best—producing sensors—while Medtronic will pair them with its flagship products, the 780G pump and the InPen system.
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Reasons for Optimism
Sensor Longevity
Currently, Guardian 4 sensors last for 7 days, and the upcoming Medtronic Simplera sensors are expected to have a similar lifespan. In contrast, Abbott’s Libre 2+ and Libre 3+ sensors offer 15-day wear time.
Sensor Accuracy
According to studies, Abbott’s Libre 3+ achieves a MARD (Mean Absolute Relative Difference) of 8.2%, while the latest Medtronic Simplera reports a MARD of 9.1%. Unofficial reports suggest that Libre 3+ sensors produced in Abbott’s factories will be manufactured specifically for Medtronic’s 780G pumps and InPen systems and supplied directly to Medtronic.
Production Capacity
It’s no secret that Medtronic occasionally struggles with production capacity, particularly in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Abbott has successfully resolved its production challenges and is cautiously scaling its operations to avoid overexpansion. This is evident in markets like Serbia, where Libre sensors are expected to arrive next year, and Bosnia, where they remain unavailable for now.
Pens, Sensors, and Smart Applications
While we highly value insulin pumps that automatically regulate glucose levels, the reality is that most insulin-dependent individuals still rely on multiple daily injection pens. The next significant step for these users is ensuring access to sensors through health insurance, ideally paired with intelligent applications. Such apps could seamlessly connect pens and sensors, provide dosing recommendations, and offer a host of other features.
It’s particularly exciting to note that the official announcement explicitly mentions that the new Abbott-Medtronic partnership includes Medtronic’s InPen system. This smart Bluetooth-enabled pen continuously communicates with an intelligent app linked to sensors, offering advanced diabetes management features. 😊
This partnership addresses a massive market, and Abbott’s robust sensor production capacity positions it well for success.
Conclusion
Someone at Medtronic has clearly taken a strategic, global view of the insulin pump, sensor, and diabetes care market. They’ve noticed that competitors like OmniPod, Tandem, and even Ypsomed are excelling by offering users the flexibility to choose from multiple high-quality sensors—and Medtronic has now joined forces with the biggest player in the field. 😊
At the same time, Abbott has demonstrated its awareness of the growing importance of smart insulin pumps with its latest Libre 2 Plus sensors designed for pump integration. Pumps are no longer simple devices delivering insulin without regard to glucose levels. Today’s pumps are highly intelligent and adaptive systems that automatically adjust insulin delivery.
While the practical implementation and timeline of this Medtronic-Abbott collaboration remain to be seen, people with diabetes have every reason to be optimistic. This global partnership between two industry giants is set to intensify competition in the field of smart insulin pumps, ultimately benefiting the entire diabetes ecosystem.
Best of luck to us all!
P.S. Check out world-renowned blogger Tim Street’s take on this topic: Waving the white flag? Medtronic partners with Abbott for CGM.
