28KIT
Libre - the first 10 years
An update on Abbott a decade since introducing Libre
with new manufacturing facility open in Kilkenny,
Ireland, and a look at future trends in sensor use.
Abbott's Jared Watkin celebrated
the decade since bringing Libre
from 'zero to hero'. From Wales,
Watkin was divisional vice president,
technical operations, diabetes care
in the UK from 2008 to 2015, during
which time Libre was conceived of
and delivered.
Now executive vice president
diabetes care based in the US, in a
post on LinkedIn he said, "Disrupt
yourself before someone else does.
It's a key lesson in business and
an important part of our journey
to transform an underperforming
product into the most successful
medical device in history. This
piece in Harvard Business Review
highlights the full story, including
why it's crucial to design with broad
access in mind from day one. I've
been proud to share these insights
10 years after helping to introduce
FreeStyle Libre."
To read the full article, click
HERE.
Further assets
As part of the success of Libre - now
with several versions adapted to
specific areas of glucose healthcare,
Abbott has opened a state-of-theart
global manufacturing facility in
Kilkenny, Ireland. Abbott chairman
and chief executive officer, Robert
Ford, attended the official opening
with Irish Taoiseach, Simon Harris.
More than 800 to be employed
at the diabetes technology
manufacturing site, which is part
of a €440m investment Abbott is
making across two sites in Ireland.
The facility will have the highest
production of FreeStyle Libre sensors
in the world. Speaking at the event
Harris said, "Abbott, which has been
in Ireland since 1946, is one of the
NOVEMBER 2024
THE FUTURE OF DIABETES CARE
THE EXPERT VIEW
This report has been developed by Abbott to mark ten years since the launch of FreeStyle Libre, its
world-leading continuous glucose monitoring technology that has helped revolutionise the
treatment of diabetes. This report looks at the next decade of diabetes care, the trends that may
shape how people will manage the condition and what needs to be done to ensure everyone can
access further advances in care.
The number of adults living with diabetes will rise from 537 million1 in 2021 to more than 1.3 billion
in 20502. For the past ten years, teams of doctors, patient groups, researchers and industry leaders
have worked to revolutionise diabetes care with the arrival of new technologies, medicines and
insulin delivery systems. So, what will the next decade hold? Abbott commissioned Thinks, a
research consultancy, to ask key opinion leaders (KOLs) within the diabetes industry, including
academics, advocacy groups, policymakers, and healthcare professionals for their views. Their
insights are contained throughout this report.
INTRODUCTION
The progress in the treatment of diabetes is one of the great success stories of humankind. The
earliest known mention of the condition can be traced back as far as Ancient Egypt (around 1550
BC). Papyrus has been discovered that describes a condition that causes excessive urination, thirst
and weight loss - something we would now call Type 1 diabetes. The earliest distinction between
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes was made around 2,000 years ago, likely in India and China. However,
it would not be until 1776 when an English physician, Matthew Dobson, undertook research that
would ultimately prove that people with diabetes had some form of problem with the pancreas.
Fast-forward to 1921 and Frederick Banting and Charles Best discovered insulin, confirming that it
could be used to treat diabetes. A year later, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson became the first person
to be injected with insulin.
Progress in the treatment of diabetes was vital, as the number of people living with the condition
would soon grow exponentially. In 1980, approximately 108 million people lived with the disease3,
rising to around 537 million in 2021. Estimates suggest this could rise to 1.3 billion by 20502.
A DECADE OF PROGRESS
The past ten years have seen rapid improvement in the management of diabetes, particularly in Type
1 diabetes. Prior to the introduction of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) like FreeStyle Libre,
people would be forced to test their glucose levels manually by sticking their finger - sometimes up
to 10 times a day - to test a drop of blood. This was painful, only measured blood glucose at a single
point in time and meant carrying around a device and multiple test strips, which some people found
embarrassing to do in public or the workplace.
longest-established global companies
and largest employers in our country.
This latest investment is a further
vote of confidence in Ireland as a
location for world-class advanced
manufacturing and healthcare
businesses. With the opening of this
new site, Ireland is now at the global
centre of diabetes care."
Abbott's Kilkenny facility was built
with sustainability in mind. The site
is fully electric, powered by six airto-water
heat pumps, has nearly 600
solar panels on the roof and features
tanks for collecting rainwater to
use onsite.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre portfolio
is the world's leading2 continuous
glucose monitoring system, now
helping more than 6m people in more
than 60 countries.
Click the pic to download the report.