Medtronic has announced it has received approval of its MiniMed 670G insulin pump.
“This is exciting news. However, while the MiniMed 670G Insulin Pump has been registered, there is still one more piece that needs to be delivered in Australia,” said Mary Canning, director of Medtronic Diabetes, Australia and New Zealand.
“The new pump requires a compatible sensor for continuous glucose monitoring which – according to Australian regulation – will be registered separately. We have been working to have this registered, but do not yet have a confirmed date for availability.”
The insulin pump is registered for the treatment of people with type 1 diabetes over seven years of age.
Medtronic said it will begin commercial release of the MiniMed 670G insulin pump later this year with system availability increasing over time.
"This timeline ensures payer coverage, market and manufacturing readiness, as well as appropriate training of employees, clinicians, educators and patients on the new therapy," it said.
The company also announced that Australians diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over seven years of age will be eligible for the MiniMed 670G Access Program including six months compatible CGM.
The program allows eligible registered patients to start on the MiniMed 640G system now and switch to the MiniMed 670G when supply is available in Australia, at no additional cost.
“The 640G system is the most advanced system in Australia and the 670G builds on this. We know that members of our community are keen to access the latest technology as it becomes available so wanted to share the news about the 670G as soon as possible," said Ms Canning.
“The new program aligns with our local commitment to promoting patient choice and access to the latest advances in diabetes management technology – both now and in the future. As part of The MiniMed 670G Access Program we will also aim to generate data that demonstrates our technologies can assist in reducing overall healthcare costs. We hope this data will help expand funded access to future diabetes technology in Australia.”