New tools same problem
To say that telemedicine has received a boost from the coronavirus is like saying the Chicago Bulls of the mid to late 90’s were a pretty good basketball team lead by a decent guy named Michael Jordan. Pretty damn obvious for sure. However in the midst of this transcendence from a technology that was used once in a while to now a technology that has become indispensable many seem to...
Glucose monitoring for dummies
We really thought we were passed this point but it’s time for a refresher course in glucose monitoring. Thanks to the coronavirus the FDA has been relaxing regulations on the usage of glucose monitoring in a hospital setting. The FDA has granted Livongo emergency use authorization to allow its glucose meter in a hospital. It has also granted this authorization to Dexcom and Abbott for their CGM systems. As we noted...
Are we setting up for a pullback?
As the talk of reopening the economy begins its valid to ask whether this recent recovery in the markets is sustainable or are we setting up for another pullback when second quarter results are released. As we have noted several times the first quarter results being announced now aren’t giving a true picture of the coronavirus impact. Second quarter results will likely bring this picture into clearer focus. Looking specifically at...
Old models don’t work in new times
One of the benefits of the current crisis is that old ways are being pushed aside and new, unproven methods are being forced into play. Telemedicine is good example as this technology is now being widely used pushed into the forefront not because the technology got better necessity dictated its usage. The same can said for the drugs being looked at as a vaccine or treatment for the coronavirus, same...
Yep it’s Friday but how would we know
Before we get into our weekly warp up been thinking with shelter in place being the order of the land, well most of the land anyway, are Friday’s still a big deal. Back before we were under lockdown everyone looked forward to Friday. Yet now that most of us are working from home, well we always worked from home, and the days tend to blend together Friday has become like...
COVID earnings
Before we begin our comments on Abbott’s earnings released this morning a shout out to the diabetes industry and their efforts to help patients during this difficult time. Just this morning Insulet announced a financial assistance program offering a FREE 6-month supply of pods for patients who have been adversely impacted by the crisis. Insulet joins Novo Nordisk, Lilly and others who have offered either FREE drugs and/or devices. The...
Have the wheels come off the wagon?
It’s no secret that Medtronic has more than a few issues with their diabetes unit. The company is in the midst of a recall that has the potential to impact over 300,000 units. They no longer have the coolest toy in the toy chest with the Control IQ now owning that title. And like everyone else is dealing with the coronavirus which for Medtronic could be a good thing as...
Here Comes OneDrop
Yesterday we learned that OneDrop had acquired the asset of Sano, one of the many failed Dexcom wannabes. According to a story on the Hit Consultant website; “One Drop has acquired all the assets and intellectual property of Sano Intelligence, Inc. which include Sano’s continuous glucose sensing platform. One Drop will leverage the acquired assets, including silicon-sensing production infrastructure, to design, produce, and commercialize a painless, silicon-based continuous health sensing platform for...
Dumb they ain’t
Since the day Livongo went public achieving an astronomical valuation of over $4 Billion we wonder just what were investors thinking. We knew that digital health was hotter than Georgia asphalt and that the Livongo team had produced in the past, but this didn’t explain why the company achieved such an incredible valuation. From the start we believed, and we continue to believe that the platform offered by Livongo was...
What happens when …..
Last year Lilly sold $2.8 Billion worth of Humalog, while Novo Nordisk sold $2.6 Billion of Novolog. Yet Lilly sold $4.1 Billion worth of Trulicity while Novo’s GLP-1 franchise which includes Victoza and Ozempic had combined sales of $4.9 Billion. Throw in sales of Basaglar $1.1 Billion and $3 Billion for Novo’s long acting insulin’s and a picture emerges. A picture which says while these companies may be known for...