At last year’s event, next-generation technologies from the big hitters took the spotlight. The 83rd iteration this past week produced a range of new studies, product updates and positive news for a number of technologies and innovations. From continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to insulin pumps to digital platforms and diabetes reversal procedures, we saw it all at ADA 2023.
Usual suspects, like Dexcom, Abbott, Medtronic and Insulet, shared their updates. Meanwhile, promising data came out of Senseonics, Sernova, Bigfoot Biomedical and more.
BTIG analyst Marie Thibault came away from the conference with optimism around the diabetes space.
“While overall attendance at the ADA meeting felt low compared to pre-COVID and other medical meetings we’ve gone to this year, analyst and investor attendance seemed particularly high to us,” Thibault wrote in a report. “It is clear diabetes tech remains a high priority for the medtech investment community, in part because of the numerous catalysts and rapidly shifting market dynamics. We remain bullish on the space and expect sales growth rates to keep outpacing most of MedTech.”
You can find a collection of the individual stories that came out of the conference over the past week HERE. Listen to a discussion around the news from the event on this week’s episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast HERE.
Here is a breakdown of some of the biggest stories to come from the ADA 2023 Scientific Sessions:
Senseonics has strong data supporting its 365-day CGM
Germantown, Maryland-based Senseonics (NYSE:SENS) may soon double the wear time for its long-term implantable CGM.
At ADA, the company shared positive clinical data highlighting the effectiveness of its Eversense CGM. Senseonics presented two studies on its latest-generation Eversense E3.
The 180-day implantable CGM received FDA approval in February of last year. Eversense E3 is fully implantable and requires just two sensor insertion and removal procedures per year.
“These data further bolster Eversense’s position as a leading CGM choice for people with diabetes,” said Dr. Francine Kaufman, Senseonics chief medical officer. “These recent studies are an important step forward as we continue to expand awareness of the system’s unique clinical benefits.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to present these results to our peers at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions and are proud to support the global diabetes community with a CGM that provides safety and accuracy benefits that can lead to more effective diabetes management.”
Dexcom wants to bring a new type of glucose sensor to market
As part of its efforts at ADA, Dexcom (Nasdaq:DXCM) unveiled its strategy to expand access to its glucose-sensing technology for millions around the world.
Dexcom said it plans for a new product that includes a 15-day sensor and a cash-pay option. The company designed its new product for people who don’t use insulin — approximately 70% of Americans with diabetes.
According to Dexcom, it aims to offer a new software experience tailored for those not on insulin. It plans to bring this product to market in 2024.
Earlier this year, Dexcom Chair, President and CEO Kevin Sayer hinted at potential new avenues when speaking to Drug Delivery Business News. He explained that the company wanted to broaden its focus, even revising its mission statement. Dexcom updated its mission — enabling people to take control of diabetes — by changing “diabetes” to “health.”
“Dexcom is building a world in which our care for users includes not only helping them in the management of chronic conditions, but the potential to help prevent the onset and progression of disease through better metabolic health,” Sayer said in a news release. “There is so much that people who don’t use insulin can learn by receiving continuous glucose data and seeing first-hand how diet, exercise, sleep, stress and other factors affect their overall health.”
Medtronic’s MiniMed 780G Mealtime Technology performs well in adolescents
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) went into ADA with positive clinical and real-world data supporting its MiniMed 780G automated insulin delivery system.
The new data sets evaluated the recently FDA-approved system across a wide variety of users. They looked at younger patients, those not meeting glycemic goals, and individuals using simplified meal announcement technology. MiniMed 780G is the only system with meal detection technology providing automatic adjustments and corrections to sugar levels every five minutes. This occurs for both basal (background) and bolus (mealtime) insulin needs.
Que Dallara, Medtronic Diabetes EVP and president, previously told Drug Delivery Business News that this feature is “a big deal.”
Results from adolescents with diabetes suggest, among other things, that reduced accuracy in carb counting can be offset by the increased automated insulin delivery the system provides.
“This study shows that a simplified meal management approach with the MiniMed 780G system helped users maintain glycemic targets while providing forgiveness for inexact carb counts,” said Dr. Goran Petrovski of Sidra Medicine, who presented the study. “Clearly there’s more runway for simplification of diabetes management with this system and it’s promising for the many patients struggling with meal management.”
Insulet and Abbott make progress on Omnipod-FreeStyle Libre integration
Among a pair of updates related to the Insulet (Nasdaq:PODD) Omnipod 5, the company shared an exciting step forward in terms of device integration.
The latest-generation Omnipod 5 became the first tubeless, wearable automated insulin delivery system cleared for marketing in the U.S. in January 2022. Insulet began its full-market launch in the U.S. in August 2022. The Omnipod 5 earned CE mark approval for ages two and up in September of last year.
News of these developments follows the U.K. launch of Omnipod 5 earlier this week.
Insulet’s recent announcement represents progress toward its goal of giving Omnipod 5 users a choice over the sensor that accompanies their pump. The company said it expects to soon begin enrollment for a clinical study integrating Omnipod 5 with the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor. Currently, Omnipod 5 works in conjunction with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
This study aims to recruit up to 200 participants with type 1 diabetes, both in the adult and pediatric age groups. It spans the UK, France and Belgium. Insulet said it hopes to demonstrate superior efficacy with Omnipod 5 compared to multiple daily injections.
“Insulet’s flagship product, Omnipod 5, is having an incredible impact on people with diabetes, including improved glycemic outcomes and better quality of life,” said Jim Hollingshead, Insulet president and CEO. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to present real-world evidence from the first year on Omnipod 5 in the U.S., and further educate diabetes clinicians on how they can improve care for their patients using our tubeless automated insulin delivery technology.”
Diabetes reversal?
Two companies presented studies at ADA highlighting their innovations in the field of diabetes reversal. Both innovations — while quite different from one another — aim to reduce or eliminate some of the burdens of the chronic condition.
Fractyl Health offered up a study on its Revita ablation procedure that targets the duodenum in conjunction with empagliflozin. Revita aims to address duodenal dysfunction, a potential root cause of T2D.
At one year post-treatment, subjects experienced a median HbA1c reduction of 1.6%. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) fell by 77 mg/dL. Subjects reported 9.3% total body weight loss and a 44% insulin dosage reduction. Previous studies of empagliflozin alone saw HbA1c reduce by 0.7%, FPG by 29 mg/dL, insulin by 12% and up to 3% total body weight loss.
Fractyl also reported data on a gene therapy it has under development. Keep an eye out for potential human studies next year.
Read the full story on Fractyl’s studies HERE.
Meanwhile, in a much different approach, Virta Health wants to achieve the outcome — reverse type 2 diabetes.
The company presented real-world data for its diabetes reversal platform demonstrating narrowing gaps in care. Virta designed its technology platform to enable personalized remote care. Its offerings include physician supervision, health coaches, an app and biomarker tracking tools. It also offers a personalized nutrition plan for its patients in the hopes of reversing type 2 diabetes.
In its study, at one year, all Virta members saw significant health improvement and medication deprescription with the diabetes reversal approach. This proved effective regardless of socioeconomic conditions.
Across all groups, members achieved at least a 1.1% decrease in A1c. Insulin prescriptions fell by 38% or more and sulfonylureas fell by 77% at one year, Virta noted. Notably, the company said, more disadvantaged groups had medications reduced at greater rates.
Read the full story on Virta’s study HERE.
More stories to check out
- Real-world data supports Bigfoot Biomedical diabetes management platform
- Results highlight Bigfoot Unity’s ability to support rapid and durable improvement in glucose control.
- Abbott, ADA partner on therapeutic nutrition program for people with diabetes
- They hope to aid people with diabetes make more informed decisions about their food and activity through technologies like CGMs.
- France expands reimbursement for Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 to all basal insulin users
- France’s expansion covers the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for all people who use basal insulin as part of their diabetes management.
- Once-weekly insulin from Novo Nordisk meets clinical trial endpoints
- This could become the world’s first once-weekly insulin offering.
- Sernova reports positive interim data for Cell Pouch System
- The company aims to use its implantable system to treat insulin-dependent diabetes.
- Vida Health reports positive data for virtual diabetes program in low-income populations
- Significantly lowered A1C levels even occurred in areas with limited income and food access.
- Eli Lilly, ADA and Red Sox star Adam Duvall launch insulin affordability awareness program
- This effort comes on the heels of Lilly’s announcement in March that it planned to significantly cut insulin prices.
