The FDA approved Dexcom’s Stelo, an over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring system (iCGM) that can be purchased without a stick.
Approved for adults over the age of 18 who are not using insulin, and can also be used by healthy people who want to know about their blood sugar changes.
iCGM: integrated continuous glucose monitor
OTC: Over-the-counter
Although the Stelo price has not yet been announced, it is expected to pose a threat to Abbott’s $80 per month FreeStyle Libre.
Historically, DexCom has been priced at a premium price to Abbott products, with experts estimating that the price is around $90 per month, with additional discounts available through a U.S. Health Savings Account.
Analysts believe that the FDA’s approval of OTC iCGM has undoubtedly set a high standard.
The high cost and development time required to achieve high accuracy of the instrument may be difficult for other competitors to stand out from other competitors besides the existing DexCom and Abbott.
Obesity demographic dividend
The Stelo market for insulin-independent diabetics totals more than 25 million people, surpassing the insulin therapy market. With the increasing obesity problem and the increasing number of patients with type 2 diabetes, along with the potential applications for prediabetes and metabolic health, the need for continuous glucose monitoring technology is increasing.
Abbott is poised to go
It is estimated that the market potential of DexCom and Abbott is expected to reach more than 100 million potential users, and Abbott is also considering launching an over-the-counter product, Lingo, which will further expand its market reach.
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