New CGM pump expands market reach and clinical utility

2 million individuals in the US live with type 1 diabetes and a rising number of type 2 patients require basal-bolus insulin therapy. Credit: Halfpoint / Shutterstock

The integration of Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump system marks a significant evolution in diabetes technology. Now offering minute-by-minute glucose data over a 15-day wear period, the Libre 3 Plus can transmit readings directly to the insulin pump. This real-time integration supports tighter glucose management.

The development aligns with the accelerating adoption of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems across the US, where approximately 2 million individuals live with type 1 diabetes and a rising number of type 2 patients require basal-bolus insulin therapy. The market is increasingly favouring closed-loop technologies that combine extended sensor life, real-time glucose visibility and intelligent insulin dosing – an area where interoperability between devices is becoming a core differentiator.

From a clinical standpoint, the integration supports predictive insulin adjustments every five minutes and includes an autobolus feature to deliver correction doses when meal boluses are missed. These features address key pain points in diabetes care by reducing manual input, minimising missed doses and improving time-in-range outcomes. The mobile app interface further enhances useability and visibility for both patients and clinicians, contributing to long-term adherence and engagement.

This shift also reflects broader clinical and regulatory momentum. The American Diabetes Association now recommends AID systems as the preferred method of insulin delivery for people with type 1 and insulin-deficient type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the FDA’s recent clearance of these technologies for use in type 2 diabetes suggests a growing recognition of their value across a wider patient population.

The convergence of CGM and insulin pump technologies represents a scaleable, high-impact segment within the broader digital health and medtech space. As the focus moves toward software-driven updates, cloud integration and personalisation, these platforms are positioned not only to improve clinical outcomes but also to capture increased market share across both the type 1 and type 2 diabetes segments.

Overall, the convergence of CGM and pump technologies is reshaping diabetes care. As new integrations roll out, they not only enhance patient choice but also set the stage for more personalised, data-driven approaches to managing a complex and costly chronic condition.

Taking top spot in biotech IPOs this year is CG Oncology – the cancer drug specialist raised $380m when it hit the NASDAQ trading boards in January. This increased to $437m at IPO close after the underwriters exercised the option to purchase additional shares.

Funds raised are going towards CG’s lead asset, cretostimogene grendenorepevec, an oncolytic virus immunotherapy, which is in development for the treatment of high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

GlobalData’s business fundamentals senior analyst Ophelia Chan says: “Oncology continued to dominate as the leading therapeutic area for IPOs this year, highlighted by CG Oncology’s $437m upsized IPO—the largest and first of the year. The company’s robust clinical data and ability to secure substantial capital have contributed to its strong performance in 2024.”

After a quiet summer, the IPO market reached full swing in autumn when Bicara Therapeutics, Zenas BioPharma, and MBX Biosciences all opened on the NASDAQ on the same Friday in September. The ‘triple-header event’ saw the three companies pull in over $700m combined. It was no surprise that the surge in activity came after the Federal Reserve’s decision to lower interest rates for the first time in years, ushering in a more inviting funding environment. This fruitful month was a stark contrast to August, which saw a significant global stock market dip amid fears of a US recession.

In June, Telix Pharmaceuticals – an emerging player in the fast-growing radiopharmaceutical space – pulled a last-minute plug on its IPO. The Australian company had been planning to list on NASDAQ and was on course to raise $232m – a value that would have placed it high on the list of biotech IPO sizes this year. Telix cited that its board did not move forward with the plans due to market conditions at the time.

Numb feet, bleeding legs and dehydrated bodies mark their journeys – not to mention infectious diseases and psychological trauma. Studies have identified outbreaks of measles, diphtheria and malaria across Venezuela, while tuberculosis, typhoid and HIV, are also resurgent.

Australia could be one of the main beneficiaries of this dramatic increase in demand, where private companies and local governments alike are eager to expand the country’s nascent rare earths production. In 2021, Australia produced the fourth-most rare earths in the world. It’s total annual production of 19,958 tonnes remains significantly less than the mammoth 152,407 tonnes produced by China, but a dramatic improvement over the 1,995 tonnes produced domestically in 2011.

The dominance of China in the rare earths space has also encouraged other countries, notably the US, to look further afield for rare earth deposits to diversify their supply of the increasingly vital minerals. With the US eager to ringfence rare earth production within its allies as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, including potentially allowing the Department of Defense to invest in Australian rare earths, there could be an unexpected windfall for Australian rare earths producers.