In the quarterly quarterly financial conference call, http://investor.shareholder.com/dexcom/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=117107, Dexcom Gen 4 that is now available in Europe as of June 2012 passed an audit by the FDA in July. They believe "they are still on track for approval by the FDA of Gen 4 'by the end of 2012". They said "they will be able to support the launch right after the approval". So it appears that the FDA won't withhold the benefits of the more accurate device by more than a year (which is quite good for the idiots at the FDA).
They also said they are working for pediatric trial completion by year-end.
They are also looking for "new algorithm for Gen 4 which we believe will not only further enhance performance, but enable an extended durability claim, and we will conduct clinical trials to demonstrate this claim in H1 2012". They are also working to minimize/eliminate calibration.
They are also working on Gen5 trials in Europe (since more medical research is being moved to Europe from the U.S.). On the positive side, they said the medical reimbursement for CGM from U.S. insurance companies is much better than from European medical systems.
So I take this as good news, but you never know with Obama's FDA - "withholding beneficial medical technology from the U.S. while moving medical research jobs out of the U.S.".
I'll be waiting to get a new CGM as soon as the FDA allows it.
I see again that no Mac drivers are provided. It is not that difficult to create software that is compatible on any OS. I don't understand why they are basically leaving out a good segment of the Dex wearing population.
If you look at the their test data, the mean absolute relative difference (MARD) and the Clarke error grid numbers show they are approaching the accuracy of our strip based meters. This is good....There are, however, still a few data points in the "D" zone, which means failure to treat some highs or lows....
The improvement over the SEVEN PLUS is not that great, however... from a MARD of 16% to 14%.
Honestly, what's probably made the FDA more conservative about approval of medical devices is the recent problems with other devices such as the metal joint replacements that sent metal filings throughout people's bodies and have to be replaced and devices like faulty pacemaker leads that have had to be replaced. Many people injured and millions of dollars of cost in operations to fix the problem, so they get scared and slow everything down by being more careful. I don't think the President has anything to do with it.
If you want to get political, there are a few good things for diabetics about the Affordable Care Act : we cannot be turned down for pre-existing conditions like diabetes, kids with D can be covered under there parents policies longer, the limits are removed, etc.
Try getting coverage today through an individual plan if you are not covered by a large company plan... good luck getting anyone to even offer a plan, much less at an affordable price. Many folks on here cannot get insurance and are struggling to get insulin , strips, etc. Do we condemn them to die or spend mmillions on unecessary ER care when then show up with DKA ?
I am lucky to be covered by a mega company's health plan....not everyone is...
The Congressman have a luxury government plan, however, which they don't talk about as they put down "government health care". Lets start by cutting that! Let *them* try to buy priovate insurance for their diabetic kid or spouse!
RAH RAH!! HPN Pilot.: You said it ALL. President Obama has nothing to do with the FDA. Your exlanations of the benefits for diabetics in the Affordable Care act were both succinct and truthful. Thanks for researching and sharing the medical equipment info, Mountain Biker: It is good to know. However,your statements about the assumed powers of the leader of our national executive branch of government,IMHO,were a tad overreactive. Tea cup too hot?
Just a factual correction. Obama appointed the current commissioner,Margaret A. Hamburg. Though I have zero financial connection with Dexcom (other than the money I pay them), the choice is not between no regulation and the over the top capricious regulation we have now. Just delaying the process and changes rules mid stream doesn't help.
The attached article should clear up Obama's impact on the FDA. Also note that the current private insurance in the U.S. generally pays for CGM therapy while socialized medicine in Europe does not.
Coverage for preexisting conditions is a good thing. Much of the other 2700 pages, not so much. Obamacare needs to be replaced with a better plan that addresses some root problems -- the question is not the existing system or Obamacare, but coming up with a good market based plan. That includes reducing the costs to bring effective and safe drugs to market, not just thinging being an obstructionist makes things safer.
Does anyone know if it has been said anywhere that Dexcom will provide an upgrade pricing program from the 7+ to gen 4? My 7+ is on it's last legs, and I don't know if I should pull the trigger now with the potential that I will have to wait 12 months to get the gen 4. I am in DESPERATE need of that 30 ft range with a 3 yr old diabetic!
They talked about a prior promotion that has expired. When pressed about future promotions, not surprisingly, they said they didn't comment on future promotions. I'd certainly not buy a 7+ now if there is any way to wait.
If you wanted to spend the money (and inconvenience of getting a European prescription), the Gen4 is available TODAY in Europe. I don't know the logistics, but it is certainly doable if you can't wait for the FDA to approve it here. As I mentioned, they will ship very quickly after FDA approval since they already have the manufacturing going to support the European shipments (which are small compared to the US shipments given the limited reimbursement from the European socialized medicine).
I'd also check with Dexcom and see if there is anyway to get in the front of the line for U.S. shipments. They currently have a single production line for Gen4 and they are building a second line. I expect there may be a delay in availability in the U.S. once it is available here.
Thanks for the advice! Actually, I could quite easily get a European Rx (my son and husband are both dutch and american, but we live in the US full time) but the hassle I think would be too much to bear. I called around to my connected T1D friends yesterday who spoke to their connected Dexcom friends, and was told there will be no upgrade program. My transmitter is starting to lose range (we have had it 20 months) and think it will only last another two months at most. I am biting the bullet today and ordering a new Dex - argh - helaas pindakaas.
Good thinking. Dexcom can predict FDA approval all they want, but we all know that nobody can tell you when something will be approved. The smaller pods from Insulet were rumored to be approved in 2010.
Hmm... Mountain Biker your response is proven to be correct due to your facts presented from the White House. The Tea Party remark was meant as an insult; it has become quite obvious that but one side of political parties has no other choice but lies and insults due to the enormous failure of the last four years.
Thank you for your insight.
