Dive Brief:
- Abbott has struck a deal to integrate data from its Libre continuous glucose monitors into Epic’s electronic health record systems in the U.S., the companies said Tuesday.
- The integration will connect Abbott’s data management software to Epic’s EHR systems. Linking the systems will allow clinicians to view glucose data captured by Libre devices within Epic.
- The Epic integration could be the start of a broader Abbott initiative. Lisa Earnhardt, group president of medical devices for Abbott, said in a statement that the company aims to expand the integrated model to “other medical devices and connected care platforms in the future.”
Dive Insight:
Epic is the leading U.S. provider of EHR software that allows healthcare professionals to digitally view and update a patient’s medical history. Earlier this week, Klas Research said Epic achieved its largest ever net gain in hospital market share last year to widen its lead over the second-placed Oracle.
Abbott said the integration of its Libreview software with Epic systems will enable more than 575,000 U.S. healthcare providers serving 280 million patients to view glucose data in patients’ electronic charts. The integration is intended to cut the time healthcare professionals spend finding glucose data and make it easier for patients to collaborate with their providers.
More than 6 million people globally use Freestyle Libre CGM systems, according to Abbott. The company reported CGM sales of $1.7 billion in the first quarter, representing 18.3% year-over-year growth on a reported basis. Dexcom, a medtech company that specializes in CGMs, has forecast sales of $4.6 billion this year.
Abbott and Dexcom are competing to differentiate their devices and expand beyond the Type 1 diabetes market that drove the first wave of CGM growth. The competition has spurred work to integrate CGMs and smart rings, launch over-the-counter devices with generative AI capabilities and connect sensors to insulin pumps.
