Dexcom Gen4 and Beyond

Diabetes Technology Glucose Monitoring
1

I just skimmed the transcript of the latest Dexcom earnings report (which took place on August 3rd). There were a few interesting points about their next generation of CGMs. They're included here along with a link to the entire transcript:

Terry Gregg, Dexcom President & CEO

"Our Gen4 Sensor is more accurate than any of our previous sensor systems particularly in the hypoglycemia range. Gen4 will also have a one hour warm up time..."

"For example, the Gen4 sensor may permit a reduction in required calibrations points during a sensor session it may also enable us to obtain an indicated sensor light of longer than seven days." (I'm guessing that's supposed to be "sensor life".)

About Integration with Insulin-Pumps

"We have filed a PMA supplement (premarket approval) with the Food & Drug Administration for our first generation integrated system with Insulet Corporation and we are currently awaiting feedback from the agency. Additionally, we have completed development and are in final testing with respect to a modified transmitter for use in our integrated system with Animas and we remain committed to filing a PMA supplement for the combined DexCom Animas system before the end of the year."

"Although Gen5 remains subject to the uncertainties of ongoing research and development, our goals are lofty, as we hope to dramatically improve accuracy, greatly reduced or eliminate the need for patients to calibrate the system, provide enhanced patient convenience with a new simple applicator system and enable transmission through a variety of different receiving devices, including insulin pumps, smartphones and the like..."

http://seekingalpha.com/article/218450-dexcom-inc-q2-2010-earnings-call-transcript?source=yahoo

2

I would take this info with a tiny grain of salt only because the info is directed towards the investment community which loves stories and rewards the company story tellers by running the stock prices higher. The medical realities are likely not so optimistic. The DexCom sensors are very useful but IMHO far from reliable enough to regulate an insulin pump. < Big Sigh >

3

Interesting, and thanks! In a reply on a different Thread, I discussed how either Dexcom or Animas would have to change frequencies in order to accommodate the other… and I didn’t know that the decision was already public information. (From what you say, Dexcom intends to offer a Transmitter at Ping’s frequency; Animas can leave the pump and PDA-like controller hardware alone, doing it all in software.)

4

You’re talking about a different part of the talk, right?

THESE juicy nuggets talk about “a variety of different receiving devices”, not close-the-loop dosage decisions based on CGMS readings. I think this part merely means that they’d like to implement Dexcom’s future Transmitter with a low low-power, widely implemented wireless technology – perhaps Bluetooth-based.