FreeStyle Libre

I recall they had sensor problems, and had to play catch up on production. This wasn't too long ago. Could be wrong, but I think that involved shifting production to another site. Regardless, this is all part of the pilot run in the UK. There is nothing in the budget for anything beyond the pilot line in 2016. Translation: regardless of the spin, there is no plan to go into commercial production on Libre anytime soon. Makes sense, when you consider the time it will take to get FDA approvals. And even with that, we know it will be a cash sale on the US. That's about what, 7% of the market? Libra is DOA.

 

Why not? Ever listen to a politicians campaign speech? He's not lying. He is expected to put the best spin on the business as he can. On ADC, he's being a salesman.

Miles is a lot of things, and he made a mistake on BGM, overpaid for the two companies he bought, but that does not make him a fool. He is not going to invest any real money in ADC. We are going through the motions on FDA application for Libre, but use your head: we know already there is no market. He also knows where this is going, and knows that Abbott is not just on the outside looking in: Abbott doesn't even know where the fence is to look from. The companies working in the next generation are the up and coming Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of the future, and they would see, if they looked, ADC as the IBM mainframe computer guys of the 70's.

 

So very true and very sad. I worked at ADC and the CGM systems are actually pretty accurate and good. But management never seem interested. Libre has started a fire in the diabetes management industry (whether or not it's just a "test" or pilot) and tech companies are jumping into the fray.

Google announced their Lens, but it is not good enough. DexCom has the G5 but it cost way too much. I know for a fact that the partnership between the two was spurred on by the limited success of the Libre product. It showed that an easy to use relatively inexpensive CGM is popular and done correctly will have a market.

Done correctly is under a few bucks a day in cost and sensor to a cell phone. This is what Abbott's competition is doing.

There is a market for low cost CGM and may of the European governments are now looking at reimbursement for Libre. But to gain acceptance the cost must drop from the current $5 day to under $2. This is doable technically if the company developing a device is willing to make the investment. At this cost will there be enough users to justify the expense? DexCom and Google(x) think so....from what others post here Abbott does not. And don't forget Roche, they have been very quite but have several patents and patent applications on Bluetooth CGM sensors.

 

You are thinking like Abbott, the dinosaur. For Abbott, the device is a dead end. Same for Roche or any other pharma company. The software and interface is another dead end. There are companies out there that know devices and software and interfaces: Goodle, Apple, Samsung, Sony, etc. The device and interface are the sexy part. People don't want multiple devices to carry around. Your smart watch will be the device. It will interact with ANY sensor or implant: pacemakers, etc.

Implants and sensors of all kinds of things are the future. There will be implants that perform more than one function; someday maybe one implanted sensor the interacts will all kinds of internal devices.

Would you by an Abbott smart watch, that has a 5% compatibility with your iPhone, and requires separate downloading, and a cumbersome interface? That costs 2 - 3 x any other smart watch? It would be so much of a stand alone device , and so poor at other functions, that you would needs a iWatch anyway.

Abbott the block headed dinosaur wants to make, themselves, the Libre Watch and Libre software, in addition to the implant (sensor). Abbott thinks like Betamax: completely capture and incompatible with anyone else.

While Abbott had these delusions, everyone else has long since passed them by.

The sensor will be cheap, and comparable with ANY device via open code. ANY smart watch will be able to communicate with the sensor, and upload date via any smart phone via apps. Software companies will build systems that healthcare providers can access to monitor their patients 24\7 via data feeds from implanted sensors, via smart phones. What we think of as a smart phone today will be built into our cloths, shoes, etc, with washable, flexible components.

Since when is Abbott about being the low cost supplier? Yep, you got it: never. These sensors will be made in China, dirt cheap. The companies that make them will be skilled at being low cost providers, and work on a whole different profit model than any pharma company.

Miles knows this. That's what he is getting out.

 

I don't know how technical your are but the game changer for low data rate sensors, including medical devices, is Bluetooth low energy. It allows for a small battery and low power. It is part of the Bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1 spec and is included in every cell phone, tablet, and most PCs. Once you have device which can receive the data via this protocol and once it is networked enabled your on your way. No magic here....just advancing technology.

Trick is to capitalize on this technology. Anyone can buy it from the big semiconductor vendors such as ST Micro, TI, or Nordic to name a few. The next step is to marry it with your biosensor in a cost effective way.

In summary this technology does not need a big pharma company. Any small outfit can do this if they can figure out the needed sensor technology.

In a way a similar situation existed with drones. Very expensive and could only be made by big defense companies. But as the components (batteries, cameras, motors, composites, etc) became smaller, better, and cheaper it is now easy for anyone to build one.

 

The initial sensor problems haven't gone away, it's just that they are caught in the factory rather than reaching the customer. Either way Abbott pays extra for poor manufacturing quality.

The actual manufacturing yields are of course not disclosed. However, in the past Navigator got 50% on a good day - Libre is a similar technology and production process so is most likely similar.

Any fool can sell a product for less than it costs to make it.

 

Wow! I thought it was 20% and getting better.

 

For all you Libre fans, here is the competition:

http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/jpm-dexcom-dishes-google-verily-partnership-its-top-rd-expense/2016-01-13

Someone on this board did nail it. Said a $40M NRE was what was needed to build a new modern CGM . DexCom says they will (with Google?) and it will take 5 years. They are backing off on the 3 year commitment.

Question remains, is Abbott in this for real? Will they spend the $40M?

 

Where's the UK scientist who invented Libre when you him. Libre SUCKS like PR Boy.

 

Libre was invented in the US. It's not perfect but it does not suck. Anyone who is knowledgable about technology knows that product advance improvements happen in incremental steps. Remember 1M pixel digital cameras and 56k modems? CGM will get better in time.

 

Libre was invented in the UK.

 

Great Product! Thanks ABT!

 

Bullshit. Look at the patent app "Medical Devices and Methods". Look it up. No UK inventors here...

 

Not much activity on this thread.

I know the product is doing very well in Europe and that it has bolstered ADC sagging sales. I know this endo that can't wait until it gets to the US. She says it will help a lot of TD1 patients.

Last I heard most of the sensor bugs have been worked out and the large production lines are up and running. Still follow some of what goes on at Abbott.

Whatever happened to "Libreman"? Still drinking his two pints of Guinness for lunch....

 

Invented in USA

 

I guess Libreman drinks Bud at lunch if he is in the US.

 

Nice try, but lame. It doesn't have FDA approval, and as all who work at ADC know, it is a long, long way off from getting that. Like years away. There are no "large production lines". No scale up has occurred, or is even in the 2016 budget. What production there is, it's small scale, just enough to cover the test market in Europe.

 

I heard it's really doing well When it comes to USA endo will be making huge plan bonus. They are saying launch before fall. Can't wait !

 

Its selling like hot cakes in UK. Hope we get it before 2017. My manager said its in the works now.