Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced the U.S. launch of the MiniMed 630G insulin management system it developed to work with a blood glucose meter made by Ascensia Diabetes Care.
The MiniMed 630G uses Medtronic’s SmartGuard software and a continuous glucose monitor to warn patients when glucose levels reach a preset low and to cease insulin delivery if the user doesn’t respond to the alarm, the Fridley, Minn.-based company said. Medtronic debuted the SmartGuard tech when it won pre-market approval for the MiniMed 530G system (the company has also reportedly filed for pre-market approval from the FDA for its MiniMed 670G “artificial pancreas”).
The MiniMed 630G is also designed to link wirelessly to Ascensia’s ContourNext Link 2.4 finger-prick blood glucose meter, which can calculate and remotely deliver bolus doses and calibrate the CGM sensor. The duo re-upped their 5-year partnership in June. Ascensia was formed in January through the sale of Bayer‘s (ETR:BAYN) Diabetes Care biz toPanasonic (NYSE:PC).
“This latest innovation demonstrates Medtronic’s vision to transform diabetes care to enable greater freedom and better health through a commitment to continually improving both outcomes and user experience,” intensive insulin management president Alejandro Galindo said in prepared remarks.
“Low blood sugar at night is of particular concern, when up to 75% of severe hypoglycemia occurs and patients are unlikely to be aware of symptoms while they are asleep,” added Dr. Satish Garg of the University of Colorado’s Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. “The ability to automate the suspension of insulin at night is an important feature as prolonged hypoglycemia could be life-threatening.”
In a separate release, Ascensia Diabetes Care U.S. president Robert Schumm said his company is “delighted” by the
“The accuracy of our blood glucose monitoring system combined with the new innovative technology of the MiniMed 630G system will truly help people with diabetes manage their condition,” Schumm said. “Meter accuracy is particularly important for insulin pump users with regard to CGM calibration and insulin bolus calculations. The launch of the CountourNext Link 2.4 meter as part of the MiniMed 630G system means people with diabetes in the U.S. now have access to highly accurate blood glucose monitoring, with the latest advancements in fully integrated insulin pumps.”
