Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 has been approved for addition to the NHS Drug tariff
The FreeStyle Libre 2 system, the second generation of Abbott’s sensor-based technology for people living with diabetes, has been approved and added to the NHS Drug Tariff for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1st November.
The FreeStyle Libre 2 system, with optional real-time alarms, has been given the go-ahead by the NHS Business Services Authority for inclusion on the tarif. This means it will now be available on prescription to patients currently on the current FreeStyle Libre system as well as new patients with diabetes who meet the NHS criteria. The GP prescribing system network needs to be updated, with wide availability expected by January 2021.
All current users of the FreeStyle Libre system are advised to speak to their healthcare team from January 2021 to discuss voluntary replacement. New patients should also consult their healthcare team from that time, to discuss suitability and eligibility.
The addition of the FreeStyle Libre 2 system on the NHS Drug Tariff is the latest step in Abbott’s partnership with the NHS in order to be able to ensure Flash glucose monitoring technology is available on prescription.
Libre 3
Meanwhile, Abbott has secured CE Mark (Conformité Européenne) for its next-generation FreeStyle Libre 3 system (pictured above), which is now approved for use by people living with diabetes in Europe. The FreeStyle Libre 3 technology provides continuous, real-time glucose readings automatically delivered to smartphones every minute, offering unsurpassed 14-day accuracy in the smallest and thinnest sensor design at the same affordable price as previous versions of the device.
Jared Watkin, senior vice president, Diabetes Care, Abbott, comments: “Abbott won’t stop innovating when there’s room to raise the bar. We’ve done that again with FreeStyle Libre 3, the smallest sensor that delivers life-changing benefits and best-in-class accuracy. People living with diabetes are at the centre of our design process, and we made our next-generation technology even more discreet for a better user experience to make managing diabetes as easy and seamless as possible.”
The sensor is easy to apply with a one-piece applicator and is worn on the back of the upper arm, eliminating the need for painful fingersticks to view glucose levels. The FreeStyle Libre 3 system will be priced the same as previous generations of the device. “Since we launched the first disposable glucose sensor in 2014, we’ve always believed all people with diabetes should have access to high-quality, accurate and affordable diabetes technologies,” continues Watkin. “We built our FreeStyle Libre family of products to deliver unparalleled results at a lower cost than any other CGM available.”
In addition to the sensor, the system includes the FreeStyle Libre 3 mobile app, which is designed to enable users to capture and view their real-time glucose levels, glucose history and trend arrows showing how their glucose is changing with just a glance at their smartphone. Abbott designed its next-generation FreeStyle Libre 3 system to be more sustainable for the environment with a smaller and more discreet sensor, reducing the total volume by more than 70%. With a 41% reduction in plastic use and 43% reduction in carton paper, the new sensor design aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability.
Abbott is launching the FreeStyle Libre 3 system in Europe in the coming months with no news yet of plans for release in the UK, as it’s Libre 2 sensor has just been made available here.
2, 3 or sense?
The FreeStyle Libre portfolio has been clinically proven to improve glucose control, increase time in target glucose range, decrease time in hyperglycaemia (high glucose levels) and hypoglycaemia (low glucose levels), and lower HbA1c – all factors contributing to better health outcomes. Data also show use of the FreeStyle Libre system reduces diabetes-related hospital admissions and work absentee rates to help improve quality of life.
FreeStyle Libre was the first version of the wildly successful Flash glucose monitor from Abbot. It’s the model currently available in the UK. It does not have alarms but when scanned it does show trends, such as trending high (or low). It is not clear if this version will remain available. It’s gained great support from users by being easy to use and as not everyone wants to have alarms. At this point there is no news that this will be discontinued.
FreeStyle Libre 2 includes optional alarms. This has been available in some markets in Europe. Although is not yet available in the UK, it is hoped that will change before the end of 2020 following negotiations with NHS England. The wearer still has to scan the sensor either with the Libre reader or via smartphone app. This model can give alarms and alerts via its Bluetooth technology so long as the sensor, reader or phone are in range. These alarms will sound without scanning the sensor (including an ‘out of range’ alert). There are thresholds set for high and low alerts and alarms, with some degree of personalisation possible. Whether or not this will be at the same price in the UK is not yet known, that is part of the ongoing discussions with NHS England.
FreeStyle Libre 3 this will be a smaller, thinner sensor complete with full ‘bells and whistles’, a full CGM system that transmits continual blood glucose data to a choice of Libre’s associated app on a smartphone. It will be on the same ‘ecosystem’, the FreeStyle LibreLink app, the LibreLinkUp app which shares data with parents, partners or carers and HCPs, and LibreView (for PC). It is also a ‘greener’ product with less unrecyclable packing used.
Libre Sense, also newly available, this is a version of the FreeStyle Libre sensor aimed at sports people (and some other subsets), not people with diabetes. The idea is it will help athletes and other sporting folks to maximise their ‘fuelling’ in order to achieve a greater performance. It will not be on prescription but be available for sale to those who are interested in using it to find out what their blood glucose profile is while they are training and competing.
For the full press release about Libre 3 including all clinical trial references click this link: https://bit.ly/FSL3_Oct2020
For more about FreeStyle Libre in the UK, see www.freestylelibre.co.uk
