PMLiVE reported on October 1 that many patients with diabetes had long called for “smart” connected insulin pens to monitor their blood glucose levels, but such technology had been slow to emerge. Now, Novo Nordisk has announced the global launch of two “connected” insulin pens capable of maintaining continuous communication with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and blood glucose meters. This appears to mark the long-awaited onset of digital integration, a process that had been hindered by safety concerns, competing interests, and incompatible digital platforms.
Novo Nordisk’s biggest competitors in the diabetes injectables market are Eli Lilly and Sanofi; however, Novo Nordisk appears to have taken the lead over its rivals in launching digital solutions. The company announced plans to commercially launch two durable, connected insulin pens, the NovoPen 6 and the NovoPen Echo Plus, across key markets starting in early 2019.
In addition to patient needs, health insurance payers, particularly in the United States, are also calling for the establishment of comprehensive disease management platforms. In response, Novo Nordisk has signed new collaboration agreements with leading players in the field of diabetes digital technology, including Dexcom, Glooko, and Roche.
This partnership aims to provide solutions for patients with diabetes and their healthcare professionals. Building on its existing collaborations with IBM Watson Health and Glooko, Novo Nordisk plans to seamlessly integrate insulin delivery data from connected insulin pens into its partners’ open ecosystems and diabetes management solutions.
“Our non-exclusive collaboration strategy enables us to integrate with the various digital platforms people are already using to help manage their diabetes,” said Sylvest, Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Novo Nordisk. “We firmly believe this will help more people recognize the full benefits of our innovative medicines and begin to alleviate the mental burden of diabetes treatment for these individuals.”
“After receiving feedback from caregivers, we knew that global rollout was the right approach,” said Sylvest, referring to a Swedish pilot conducted in 2017–2018 in collaboration with Glooko. “During the trial, healthcare providers noted improved patient conversations without requiring additional time investment.”
Gmuender, Global Director of Diabetes Care at Roche, added, “Integrating Novo Nordisk’s insulin data with our digital diabetes management solutions, such as mySugr and Accu-Chek Smart Pix, will enable us to enhance the quality of care and help create a more sustainable healthcare system.”
Novo Nordisk will also integrate insulin delivery data with Dexcom CGM data in the coming years. “We believe that a fully connected ecosystem represents a significant opportunity to improve people’s lives for those on multiple daily injections,” said Pacelli, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Dexcom.
Johannesson, CEO of Glooko, stated, “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Novo Nordisk. We are excited about advancing our integrated solutions and look forward to helping more people manage their diabetes through the Glooko platform.” Meanwhile, competitor Eli Lilly is developing its own connected diabetes ecosystem. Its ecosystem involves a trial combining an automated insulin delivery system with a connected insulin pump, a dosing algorithm, and Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring. The company is also developing a connected insulin pen that incorporates glucose-sensing technology and software capable of generating personalized insulin dose recommendations.