The companies agreed to pair twiist, powered by Tidepool, with Abbott‘s glucose-ketone sensor, currently under development.
Sequel said the agreement aims to improve outcomes for people with type 1 diabetes. It adds ketone sensing capabilities to a Libre glucose sensor in combination with twiist to enable the earlier detection of rising ketones.
(Abbott Diabetes SVP of Commercial Operations, Chris Scoggins, spoke to Drug Delivery Business News last year about how the dual sensor fits into the company’s future plans. Read here.)
This marks an expansion on the integration of technologies between the two companies, as Sequel announced in March that it agreed with Abbott to make the Libre system its first continuous glucose monitor (CGM) integration for twiist. Manchester, New Hampshire-based Sequel expects to launch the combination in the second quarter of 2025. The company also recently announced integration with Senseonics’ Eversense 365 year-long implantable CGM.
People with type 1 diabetes who use twiist can select from compatible CGM systems, including Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus. In the future, they can pick Eversense 365, too, plus the dual sensor once Abbott receives clearance in the U.S.
“By integrating the twiist AID System with Abbott’s future glucose-ketone sensor, Sequel will be able to offer people with diabetes greater choice and the potential for improved outcomes in managing their care. twiist was designed to rapidly identify interruptions in insulin delivery, so combining this with early identification of rising ketones could help people living with diabetes react more quickly and more confidently,” said Sequel CEO and Co-Founder Alan Lotvin, M.D. “Through this collaboration, we are redefining what people living with diabetes can expect from an AID system.”
More about the Sequel twiist automated insulin delivery system
Sequel built the twiist system on underlying drug delivery technology developed by DEKA R&D. Dean Kamen, co-founder of Sequel and founder of DEKA, commercialized the first wearable insulin pump for diabetes and last year said the twiist system “represents the next generation of insulin delivery.” Sequel won FDA clearance for the twiist system in March 2024.
twiist, combined with the twiist Loop algorithm, directly measures the volume of insulin delivered with every microdose. It offers the capability and flexibility to address each patient’s individual dosing needs. Sequel’s system utilizes sound waves that measure each pulse of insulin. This enables precision and helps understand exactly how much insulin the patient receives in a dose.
twiist features iiSure technology, which includes four checkpoints to provide accurate delivery and alert users to blockages quickly. Cleared for ages six and up with type 1 diabetes, the system offers a personalized way to manage the condition.
Tidepool’s FDA-cleared, hybrid, closed-loop AID app works with multiple insulin pumps and CGMs. It has collaborated with multiple companies on automated insulin delivery, including Embecta and Medtronic.
(At the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in June 2024, CEO Dr. Alan Lotvin explained the unique advantages of the new system.)
