Medtronic Adds 3 Partners for Diabetes Management

Medical device giant Medtronic is expanding its reach in diabetes management with three new partnerships.

On June 5, Medtronic and Ridgefield Park, N.J.-based Samsung Electronics announced plans to develop applications for use with Samsung’s mobile devices that allow users to view data from insulin pump and continuous glucose monitors. The application will work with Medtronic’s MiniMed Connect, which enables quick access to diabetes information and sends remote alerts. MiniMed Connect is set for U.S. launch in the next few months.

On June 8, Medtronic and BD Medical said they will introduce a new insulin pump infusion set. Under the deal, BD will manufacture the product and Medtronic will handle commercialization.

Also on June 8, Medtronic announced an agreement with Glooko to incorporate data from its insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors into the Palo Alto, Calif., firm’s secure mobile-based diabetes management platform.

The agreement will allow Medtronic to integrate other health and wellness data sources, such as food, medication, fitness and biometrics, with Glooko’s CareLink platform. Glooko’s software is FDA-cleared and HIPAA-compliant and syncs with more than 30 blood glucose trackers and health monitors across a range of manufacturers.

The partnerships are part of an ongoing effort to transition from an insulin pump and sensor manufacturer to a holistic diabetes management company, Medtronic spokeswoman Amanda Sheldon says. Diabetes care accounts for about 6 percent of Medtronic’s total business, or $1.7 billion in annual revenue. — Elizabeth Orr