FDA approves Medtronic's iPro2 Professional continuous glucose monitoring system

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of iPro^®2, a next generation Professional continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and the latest in a series of recent diabetes technology approvals and innovations from the company. iPro2 simplifies Professional CGM and enables healthcare providers to obtain a more complete picture of glucose control for the patients they treat. Professional CGM is used by healthcare providers to reveal low (hypoglycemia) and high (hyperglycemia) glucose excursions that can lead to the dangerous health complications of diabetes. These excursions often go unnoticed with traditional A1C tests and standard glucose meter measurements.

"My vision is to make an iPro2 evaluation part of routine visits for many of my patients with diabetes. I find it particularly helpful in identifying repeated glucose lows at night and glucose highs after meals, issues that a near-normal A1C does not reveal," said Dr. David Huffman of University Diabetes and Endocrine Consultants, a center that participated in a pre-market study for iPro2. "I am one doctor in a busy office, but the advances with iPro2 will make Professional CGM accessible to more patients who need it. I see that as better medicine."

iPro2 provides healthcare providers insight into how diet, medication, and daily activities affect their patients' glucose levels. The system can be used to identify nocturnal hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia following meals, providing an opportunity to make therapy adjustments that can result in better glucose control. Good glucose control can greatly reduce the risk of diabetes complications including blindness, kidney failure, amputation, impotence and heart disease.

AACE Supports Use of Professional CGM for Broad Range of Patients with Diabetes

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the Endocrine Society, professional communities of physicians specializing in endocrinology, both recently published recommendations for use of Professional CGM on a broad range of patients with diabetes. The AACE Consensus statement indicates that Professional CGM is ideal for type 1 or type 2 diabetes patients who are not achieving target A1C levels, and for patients who have recurrent hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia unawareness. The statement also recommended Professional CGM for all pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and intermittent use in youth with type 1 diabetes. The Endocrine Society's Clinical Guidelines suggested intermittent use in patients in whom clinicians worry about the dawn phenomenon, high glucose levels after meals, and in patients undergoing significant changes in their diabetes regimen.

"We are dedicated to bringing new innovations in continuous glucose monitoring to healthcare professionals and patients with the introduction of our fourth-generation Professional CGM, as well as ongoing sensor enhancements," said Greg Meehan, Vice President and General Manager of the Continuous Glucose Monitoring business at Medtronic. "CGM adoption is on the rise. We believe the combination of improved reimbursement for both clinicians and patients, increased clinical evidence as seen in the Medtronic STAR 3 and JDRF trials, as well as ongoing product advancements, are moving CGM devices toward the standard of care for diabetes management."

Source: Medtronic, Inc.