Maidenhead, 27 April 2023 – Abbott today announced that its FreeStyle Libre® 3 sensor – the first continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with readings every minute – is now authorised to work with Ypsomed’s mylife™ YpsoPump and CamDiab's CamAPS FX mobile app in a major step forward for Type 1 diabetes management in the UK.
Combined, these technologies form an intelligent process to deliver insulin based on real-time glucose data via an automated insulin delivery system (AID), designed to help people living with Type 1 diabetes improve how they manage their condition on a daily basis.
A hybrid closed loop system works by continuously monitoring a person’s glucose levels based on real-time readings from the glucose sensor with an algorithm in the app to calculate and deliver the right amount of insulin as needed. This removes the guesswork of insulin dosing and can improve health outcomes by helping those living with Type 1 diabetes to improve their quality of life and reach better treatment targets.
Draft guidance published by NICE in Januaryi recommended the use of hybrid closed loop systems, such as the one announced today by Abbott, for people with Type 1 diabetes that require pump therapy.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre systems are the UK’s most widely used glucose sensing technologyii. The FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors are the smallest, thinnest and most discreetiii and last for up to 14 days and are part of a portfolio that has changed the lives of more than 4.5 million people across more than 60 countries, by providing breakthrough technology that is accessible and affordable.iv
Professor Partha S. Kar, OBE, national specialty advisor, diabetes at NHS England said: “It is wonderful to see the coming together of Ypsomed’s mylife YpsoPump; CamAPX FX algorithm and Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor into one hybrid closed loop system - creating exciting opportunities for people living with Type 1 diabetes. This type of advanced technology has the potential to change people’s lives for the better, so I’m pleased to see companies continue to innovate and bring functionality like this together, to allow for broader choice for patients and healthcare professionals.”
According to JDRF’s Type 1 Diabetes Index (T1D Index) the average person living with Type 1 diabetes in the UK loses 16 healthy years when their diabetes is not adequately managed. Healthy years equates to time lost to ill health, disability, or other complications from living with Type 1 diabetes. With over 400,000 people currently living with the condition in the UK, streamlining how they can better manage their diabetes by improving access to pumps and CGMs can add almost three healthy years to their lifev.
Hilary Nathan, Policy and Communications Director at JDRF said "The landscape for Type 1 diabetes treatment is transforming with the use of technology and hybrid closed loop systems. We are in a dynamic period of progress, and we look forward to NICE approving hybrid closed loop later this spring in England and Wales. Underpinning all product and regulatory advances lies the central principle that patients have a range of choices to ensure evidence-based treatments fit the very personalised nature of Type 1 diabetes."
Neil Harris, General Manager of Abbott's diabetes care business in the UK and Ireland said: "Our mission has always been to provide affordable and accessible technologies that help as many people as possible. We introduced FreeStyle Libre technology to Europe as the most affordable sensor, with the longest wear time on the market to help reduce some of the mental load that comes with managing the condition. This collaboration brings users of FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors in the UK a hybrid closed loop system that will allow them to spend even less time thinking about their diabetes and more time enjoying life."
Sébastien Delarive, Chief Business Officer Diabetes Care at Ypsomed, said: “We are convinced that the major challenges facing society can only be solved through partnerships. We are therefore proud to expand our offering with Abbott to give the users of our mylife™ YpsoPump more freedom of choice in managing their diabetes. Our compact and easy-to-use insulin pump authorised to work with Abbott’s latest sensor and CamDiab’s adaptive hybrid closed-loop app will change the lives of thousands of people affected by diabetes.”
In addition to partnering with Ypsomed and CamDiab, Abbott is working to make the FreeStyle Libre platform interoperable with other leading insulin delivery systems.
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References
i NICE, 2023. Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10845 [Accessed April 2023]
ii Data on file. 
IQVIA prescribing data. May 2022
iii Among patient-applied sensors. Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc.
iv Based on a comparison of list prices of the FreeStyle Libre portfolio versus competitor CGM systems available worldwide. The actual cost to patients may or may not be lower than other CGM systems, depending on local reimbursement, if any.
v JDRF, 2022. Type 1 Diabetes Index. https://www.t1dindex.org/countries/the-united-kingdom/ [Accessed April 2023]
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