FreeStyle Libre 3: World's Smallest Sensor is Here

Abbott continues to revolutionize care for people with diabetes with its best-in-class FreeStyle portfolio.

Strategy and Strength|Sep.28, 2020

Abbott has kept a steady drumbeat of innovation across its FreeStyle portfolio in 2020 and the company isn’t about to break its streak now.

The much-anticipated FreeStyle Libre 3 system — featuring the world's smallest, thinnest1 glucose sensor (about the size of two stacked U.S. pennies) — has received CE mark for people with diabetes in Europe.

This next-gen system provides the same benefits of FreeStyle Libre 2, including unsurpassed 14-day2 accuracy and optional glucose alarms, but also evolves the portfolio with new features, such as continuous real-time glucose readings automatically delivered to a person's smartphone every minute and a sensor that's easy to apply with a one-piece applicator.

"Continued momentum for the global Libre franchise" is expected, Cowen analysts wrote in a June 15 note.3

The FreeStyle Libre 3 system is designed to fit seamlessly into people's lives, enabling users to discreetly check their glucose as often as they like without having to fingerstick.4 This is a life-changing innovation that lets people live better and gain deeper understanding of their glucose levels.

Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 is unparalleled in the market, here's why:

  • Unsurpassed 14-day accuracy2 — The FreeStyle Libre 3 system has a mean absolute relative difference (MARD), a measurement of performance for CGMs, of 9.2% for adults. This latest tech and FreeStyle Libre 2 are the only CGM sensors sustaining a high level of accuracy over 14 days.
  • More environmentally sustainable — Reducing the system's total volume by more than 70%,5 Abbott designed FreeStyle Libre 3 to be more sustainable for the environment, including a 41% reduction in plastic use and 43% decrease in carton paper.5
  • Affordable6 — To allow as many people as possible living with diabetes to access and benefit from the tech, Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 system will be priced the same as previous generations of the device, which is a third of the cost of other CGMs available.6

Market Leader

In just four months, Abbott has achieved two key milestones for its sensor-based glucose monitoring tech: FreeStyle Libre 2 was cleared in June by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adults and kids ages 4 and up with diabetes and now, FreeStyle Libre 3 has received CE mark for ages 4 and up with diabetes.

This continuous innovation shows Abbott's strength in the market, which is vast and growing with 463 million adults living with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). This number is projected to balloon 51% to 700 million people by 2045, IDF data show.

"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," said Jared Watkin, senior vice president, Diabetes Care, Abbott.

Abbott is launching the FreeStyle Libre 3 system in Europe in the coming months.

Learn more about FreeStyle Libre 3.

References
1Among patient-applied sensors. Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care

2Alva, Shridhara, Timothy Bailey, Ronald Brazg, Erwin S. Budiman, Kristin Castorino, Mark P. Christiansen, Gregory Forlenza, Mark Kipnes, David R. Liljenquist, and Hanqing Liu. "Accuracy of a 14-Day Factory-Calibrated Continuous Glucose Monitoring System With Advanced Algorithm in Pediatric and Adult Population With Diabetes." Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, (September 2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/1932296820958754.

3Cowen Equity Research, Libre 2 Gets U.S. Clearance, ICGM Designation; We Expect A Strong U.S. Launch, June 15, 2020.

4Finger pricks are required if glucose readings do not match symptoms or expectations.

5Compared to other FreeStyle Libre systems; Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care.

6Based on a comparison of list prices of the FreeStyle Libre portfolio versus competitor CGM systems available worldwide. The actual cost to patients may or may not be lower than other CGM systems, depending on local reimbursement, if any.