Replies to post #14287 on The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[north40000]

1) I hope there would be a real world decrease in HbA1c in 6 months, among patients using it, with that regimen!

2) Any projected cost by ABT for its system?

[DewDiligence]

(ABT)—Some time ago, posters on this board inquired about a way to play the global epidemic in type-2 diabetes, and such names as NVO were floated.

ABT is a "backdoor" play on this tailwind—i.e. diabetes care is a small, but likely increasing, proportion of ABT's overall business.

[DewDiligence]

ABT’s Freestyle Libre glucose monitor yields mountains of useful data—for ABT:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/diabetics-addicted-data-135249729.html

When Abbott Laboratories rolled out a device in Europe to help diabetics measure their glucose levels without having to prick a finger, it included a novel ask for patients: Would they allow the company to collect their data to help guide care? The company never imagined it would be sparking an information obsession.

More than 50,000 people who used the FreeStyle Libre from 2014 to 2016 granted the company access, yielding 409 million data points. The results provide an unparalleled glimpse into the ebb and flow of testing in a group of people whose lives—and limbs—depend on their efforts.

The Libre is a waterproof button the size of a quarter that sits on the outside of the upper arm. It houses a tiny needle-shaped sensor that rests just under the skin, continuously measuring glucose levels in the interstitial fluid that bathes the cells.

…The company didn’t anticipate how addictive getting information would be. FreeStyle Libre users scanned their sensors an average 16 times a day; some exceeded 45. The results blew past traditional testing with blood taken from a fingertip, which for Type 1 diabetics is recommended four to eight times a day—a regimen that some find taxing.

FreeStyle Libre is approved in most countries and is currently under review by the FDA.

[DewDiligence]

(ABT)—AAPL working on non-invasive continuous glucose monitor, according to sources:

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/12/apple-working-on-glucose-sensors-diabetes-treatment.html

One person said about 30 people were working in this group as of a year ago. But speculation has been flying around since the company snapped up about a dozen biomedical experts from companies like Vital Connect, Masimo, Sano, Medtronic and C8 Medisensors.

One of the people said that Apple is developing optical sensors, which involves shining a light through the skin to measure indications of glucose.

Could this why ABT is down almost 2% today? If so, it seems like an overreaction.

[DewDiligence]

ABT +2%/AH on FDA approval of FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose-monitoring system:

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm577890.htm

FreeStyle Libre was already approved in all major countries except the US (where medical-device approvals tend to be slowest), but FDA approval will move the needle even for a company as large as ABT.

Competitor DXCM is -6%/AH on this news.