Does this make any sense?
Yesterday Tandem stated they have finalized their agreement with Abbott. Per a press release;
“Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ: TNDM) announced today that they have finalized an agreement to develop and commercialize integrated diabetes solutions that combine Abbott’s world-leading continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology with Tandem’s innovative insulin delivery systems to provide more options for people to manage their diabetes. The companies first announced their intention to work together in October 2019, and this resulting agreement covers the technical development of device integration and associated commercial support activities.”
Sounds great until you consider that integrating with any version of the Libre is pretty much worthless given the warning that came with the Libre2 approval. Now unless we missed something Tandem is an insulin pump company, and unless we really missed something they still have the coolest toy in the toy chest, the Control IQ. A system which works with a real CGM one that is actually worthy of the iCGM designation.
We hate to beat a dead horse but seriously how the hell did the FDA grant the Libre2 iCGM when it cannot be used with automated insulin dosing or low glucose suspend. Someone has to explain this and please do it slowly as it makes no sense whatsoever.
Thinking that maybe we were asleep at the wheel we reached out to Tandem. Who said;
“We have not specified which version of Libre technology we’ll be integrating with. It will be determined by a few different factors, including the timing for product integration work to be complete and for Abbott’s iCGM designation to be cleared for AID system compatibility.”
Ok fair enough, which when translated from corporate speak means Tandem is all for interoperability, they have nothing to lose with this deal so why not. The Control IQ will continue to kick ass and take names. Tandem looks good to the diabetes community who seems to think interoperability is the greatest thing since sliced bread and soft soap.
Dexcom their partner with Control IQ likely could care less as only the lord knows when Libre2 will get AID clearance. In the meantime they will continue to work on the G7 which given the way Abbott has been getting things through the FDA will likely get here before Libre2 has AID clearance. Unlike Abbott, Dexcom is magnanimous when it comes to their backstabbing competitor. Likely because they know that Abbott is committed to a value strategy for Libre and nothing not even Libre2 getting AID clearance will change that.
Why Abbott has chosen to go after Dexcom behind the scenes remains a mystery and only lessons our respect for the company. Be happy with your billion-dollar franchise and be thankful you are not Medtronic. Why oh why can’t all the children play nicely in the sandbox?
Anyway we have also learned that Insulet has been talking with our friends at Abbott as they too are wondering when Libre2 will get AID clearance. Yep Insulet is an insulin pump company and yep they also work with Dexcom who does not have to do anything to work with the Horizon because it is a real CGM one which earned iCGM because it is really an iCGM. Like Tandem Insulet wants interoperability and like Tandem they have nothing to lose in working with Abbott. So expect Insulet to say something nice about their Abbott relationship when they report results on August 6th.
We would also encourage everyone to mark July 16th on their calendar for this is when Abbott reports results. Now our guess is that the Libre2 will be discussed and some bright analyst, yes we know that is a contradiction in terms or what some would call an oxymoron, might ask just how the hell Libre2 is an iCGM when it cannot be used with AID. They might also ask what steps are necessary to gain AID clearance, have any of these steps be taken yet and why the hell did it get iCGM in the first place.
Believe us when we say this, but Abbott will make this issue into a positive which is almost as priceless as Medtronic saying that patients still want to calibrate a CGM with an old fashioned fingerstick. But Abbott being Abbott they will go out of their way to minimize what is turning into a major embarrassment.
And Liber2 got iCGM why?
