Diabetes remains one of the nation’s most prevalent and dangerous chronic conditions, affecting nearly 15% of U.S. adults and causing more than 100,000 deaths each year. As a response, the landscape of medical devices designed to help manage this condition is evolving at a speedier tempo than ever before.
In line with this trend, Abbott unveiled the latest update to its FreeStyle Libre line of continuous glucose monitoring products last week. The medical device giant launched the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, which it says is the smallest and most discreet sensor on the market.
The circular device — which is the size of two stacked pennies — is inserted just below the skin surface on the back of the upper arm to measure a patient’s glucose levels as they go about their daily life. The sensor sends the patient’s glucose data to their mobile app and/or handheld reader every 60 seconds and can be worn for up to 15 days.
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The sensor will be available in U.S. retail pharmacies and medical equipment suppliers in the next few months, an Abbott spokesperson wrote in an email.
“Because continuous glucose monitors are a wearable device, it’s important that people feel like the sensor doesn’t interfere with their daily lives. With the Libre 3 system, Abbott created a sensor that is as discreet as possible: it’s one-fourth the size of other on-body sensors on the market today,” the spokesperson wrote.
The company said that the sensor’s discreteness sets it apart from others on the market, such as those made by Medtronic, Dexcom and Roche.
The new device is also designed for future compatibility with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. These systems, also known as artificial pancreas systems, combine continuous glucose monitoring with insulin pump technology to automatically deliver insulin when needed.
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AID systems, which first entered the market in 2016, help diabetes patients maintain optimal control of their blood glucose levels and reduce the personal burden of disease management. Some companies that manufacture these devices include Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care and Insulet.
By launching this new device and announcing plans for future AID integrations, Abbott is further demonstrating its commitment to innovation in its diabetes portfolio. Less than a year ago, the company acquired Bigfoot Biomedical, which makes a “smart” insulin pen cap that collects data from a patient’s continuous glucose monitor to help them calculate the right dose.
In a January call with investors, Abbott CEO Robert Ford pointed out that the company raked in $5.3 billion in FreeStyle Libre sales in 2023, marking 24% growth in the fourth quarter alone.
“In terms of sales dollars, Libre has become the most successful medical device in history, and it has outpaced market growth in 13 out of the last 16 quarters,” Ford said during the call.
Photo: Abbott
