Abbott Chairman of the Board and CEO Robert B. Ford delivers a keynote address at CES 2022 at The Venetian Las Vegas on January 6, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Abbott Laboratories announced Monday it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 2 latest continuous glucose monitoring systems, including one for individuals who do not have diabetes. Each might be available over-the-counter and not using a prescription.
A continuous glucose monitor, or a CGM, is a small sensor that pokes through the skin and tracks an individual’s glucose levels in real time. It wirelessly transmits this data to a smartphone. CGMs are primarily utilized by patients with diabetes because the tech can assist alert users, their families and their doctors to emergencies.
The market opportunity might be significant for Abbott, whose existing CGMs are already utilized by around 6 million patients across 60 countries, Abbot said. Around 38.4 million persons are living with diabetes within the U.S. alone, Abbott said, and offering a consumer-facing CGM brings the technology to a completely latest population.
One in every of Abbott’s latest systems, Libre Rio, is for patients with Type 2 diabetes who don’t take insulin. Its second system, Lingo, is for consumers attempting to improve their health and wellness, based on the corporate.
Abbott said Lingo users will wear a biosensor on their upper arm for 14 days at a time, and so they can track their glucose data inside a training app on their phone. Participants get access to personalised coaching based on their data that can assist them “retrain their metabolism and improve their overall wellbeing,” the corporate said.
Several firms like Signos use CGMs to assist people reduce weight and improve their metabolic health. Oftentimes, users need a legitimate CGM prescription to take part in these programs, so Abbott’s latest over-the-counter offering might be more accessible for some consumers.
Libre Rio is Abbott’s first over-the-counter offering for individuals with diabetes within the U.S., though other CGMs inside its portfolio have been available and not using a prescription in other countries over the past decade. Libre Rio is designed for Type 2 patients who often manage their diabetes with lifestyle modifications, the corporate said.
Abbott competitor Dexcom, which also sells CGM systems, received FDA approval for its first-ever over-the-counter CGM in March.