Abbott nabs U.K. reimbursement win for FreeStyle Libre CGM

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) said today that its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system will be available for reimbursement in the U.K., starting on Nov. 1.

The company’s system is designed to automatically read glucose levels through a sensor that’s worn on the back of a person’s upper arm for up to 14 days, thereby eliminating routine finger sticks.

Users can track their glucose levels and trends over time using the system’s Ambulatory Glucose Profile, Abbott said. The CGM tech can also help doctors make more informed treatment decisions, according to the company.

“The FreeStyle Libre system has been shown to offer life-changing improvements for people with diabetes to help them live healthier and fuller lives,” Neil Harris, GM of Abbott’s UK diabetes care business, said in prepared remarks. “We are delighted with the NHS decision, and we look forward to partnering with them to provide people with diabetes our innovative technology to help manage their condition.”

“FreeStyle Libre has allowed me to properly track my glucose – it’s finally connected the dots when it comes to managing my diabetes,” Dave Sowerby, a 42-year old living with Type I diabetes in Lancashire, U.K., added. “FreeStyle Libre more easily allows you to track how your glucose is changing versus using the finger stick method, as you can just scan on the go. This decision will allow people to finally take control of their condition, and understand it in a way they’ve never been able to before.”

The company touted real-world data from 50,000 users that show that people with diabetes who use the FreeStyle Libre system measure their glucose levels, on average, 15 times each day. There is also research demonstrating that people who frequently measure their blood glucose levels spend less time in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, demonstrating improved glucose control overall, the company reported.

With this reimbursement win, the U.K. joins a group of 17 countries that partially or fully reimburse for Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre, including France, Germany and Japan.

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