Beta Bionics announced today that it began the U.S. launch of its iLet bionic pancreas with the Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
The launch marks the second G7-compatible automated insulin delivery system to hit the market in as many days. Yesterday, Tandem Diabetes Care became the first to launch an artificial pancreas using Dexcom’s next-generation CGM technology.
With a firmware update, users can update their iLet to integrate with the Dexcom G7 with no additional cost for new hardware.
To upgrade, users can download or update their iLet app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, available Dec. 18. Once updated, they can change the firmware on their iLet bionic pancreas and select their CGM. Other features help to streamline the setup process as well.
“Our goal is to give our patients choice with their CGM technology and to be able to update quickly and easily without new hardware or additional costs,” said Sean Saint, Beta Bionics CEO. “We truly appreciate our partnership with Dexcom and their speed and adaptability. Once we established our timeline, we were able to rapidly integrate, test and launch with Dexcom G7 in only four months. It’s a clear testament to our teams working in unison with a common goal of providing the latest technology to help users manage their diabetes with less work and less burden.”
More about the Beta Bionics iLet and Dexcom G7 integration
Concord, Massachusetts–based Beta Bionics designed its iLet autonomous insulin delivery system to streamline diabetes management. The system, which reduces the burden on patients and physicians, received FDA clearance in May.
The system uses an adaptive, closed-loop algorithm that initializes with the user’s body weight and requires no additional insulin dosing parameters. The algorithm removes the need to manually adjust insulin pump therapy settings and variables.
iLet users only need to input their weight before the system does the rest, eliminating the need for healthcare providers to determine complex settings like correction factors, insulin-to-carb ratios or pre-set basal rates. Users can “go bionic” with their diabetes management, requiring no carb counting or insulin correction calculations. iLet determines 100% of the insulin doses throughout the day.
The system also simplifies mealtime by replacing carb counting with a meal announcement feature. It allows users to estimate the amount of carbs in their meals, while an algorithm learns to respond to individual insulin needs.
With Dexcom G7 integration, users can take advantage of automated insulin dosing with increased accuracy on the latest Dexcom CGM. G7, an all-in-one sensor and transmitter, requires no fingersticks and only a 30-minute warmup when starting. It also allows users to share numbers with up to 10 people on a connected app.
iLet users can select G7 or the previous-generation G6 CGMs, or switch back and forth, depending on their supplies.
“Dexcom G7 was designed with connectivity in mind, and this latest integration with Beta Bionics is a testament to that,” said Jake Leach, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Dexcom. “We look forward to offering iLet Bionic Pancreas users even more choice in their diabetes management and the opportunity to experience the industry-leading accuracy and simplicity of Dexcom G7.”
More about the Dexcom G7
The FDA cleared the next-generation Dexcom G7 in December 2022. By February of this year, the company began the U.S. launch of the G7.
The G7 CGM features a 60% size reduction from the previous generation, the G6. It offers a 30-minute warmup period (down from waiting two hours for glucose readings to begin in the past).
G7 provides more information in one place with personalized insights, extended-wear design and more. It features a simple wear experience, starting with unscrewing a cap. The user then puts the sensor on their body and pushes a button. The device is then turned on and can be paired with a smartphone.