Sanofi and Novo Nordisk are partnering in separate deals for insulin delivery. Sanofi and Abbott are partnering to integrate glucose sensing and insulin-delivery technologies. Novo Nordisk and Medtronic are collaborating to integrate insulin-dosing data from smart insulin pens to monitor glucose events.

Sanofi and Abbott say they will develop tools that combine Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre mobile technology, a sensor-based glucose monitoring system that can be worn by the patient, with insulin-dosing information for future smart pens, insulin titration apps, and cloud software.

Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre reads glucose levels through a sensor that can be worn on the back of the upper arm, eliminating the need for finger blood tests. Abbott’s FreeStyle LibreLink app enables users to capture and view their real-time glucose levels, their eight-hour glucose history, and how their glucose is currently changing on their smartphone. LibreLinkUp is an app that enables caregivers of people living with diabetes to remotely monitor their glucose readings.

The companies say the non-exclusive collaboration will initially enable data sharing, at the consent of the user, between Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre mobile app and cloud software and Sanofi’s connected insulin pens, apps and cloud software that are currently in development. Sanofi is currently working to provide connected pens, apps and cloud software that will be compatible with the FreeStyle Libre system and its digital health tools. The two companies aim to bring this to people with diabetes within the next few years, pending local regulatory approvals.

In other news, Medtronic and Novo Nordisk are collaborating to develop solutions to integrate insulin-dosing data from future Novo Nordisk smart insulin pens into Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices from Medtronic, such as the Guardian Connect system. Guardian Connect is a smart CGM system with predictive alerts to help people with diabetes stay ahead of high and low glucose events using multiple daily injections.

Novo Nordisk says by integrating glucose monitoring and insulin-dosing data, people with diabetes and their healthcare professionals and caregivers (with permission from the person with diabetes) will be able to automatically track these two items in a single place.

Novo Nordisk expects to launch its smart insulin pens, NovoPen 6 and NovoPen Echo Plus, as well as its disposable, pre-filled injection solution starting in 2020. Once available, the company says smart insulin pens will be compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The Guardian Connect system will be updated as well to integrate data from the Novo Nordisk smart pens.

Source: Sanofi, Novo Nordisk